Birmingham International Airport (BHX)

Introduction

Birmingham International Airport is the sixth busiest airport in the UK. Over 9 million passengers are handled by Birmingham International Airport every year. The airport is located 5½ miles (10.2 kilometres) east southeast of Birmingham, in the borough of Solihull, West Midlands and is adjacent to the National Exhibition Centre.

Facilities and Services

Birmingham International Airport can offer its passengers flights to many scheduled destinations, including domestic, European, transatlantic, middle eastern and Indian services. There are over 40 airlines that fly out of Birmingham International Airport including Air France; Air India; British Airways; KLM; Lufthansa; Pakistan International Airlines; Ryanair; and SAS.
Birmingham International Airport has two terminals. Both terminals provide passengers with a fair range of retail and catering outlets. Birmingham International Airport also has currency exchange facilities, car hire representatives, and information desks to meet arriving passengers needs.
Birmingham International Airport has several exclusive Business Lounges. Open to both business and leisure passengers, for a small fee passengers can enjoy business facilities such as fax; photocopying and Internet access. Passengers can also take advantage of complimentary drinks and snacks in a quiet and relaxing atmosphere.

Getting To The Airport

By road - the airport is just one mile from Junction 6 of the M42 with direct links to the M6; M5; M40; M1; and M6 Toll Road.
By rail - Birmingham International Railway Station, is only a two minute ride away on the free Air-Rail Link and is served by frequent national, regional and local rail services.
By bus/coach - local buses provide links to Birmingham and surrounding areas. National Express coach services provide links to most cities and other airports via Birmingham Digbeth Coach Station.

Parking at the Airport

The Short Stay car park is located right next to the terminal buildings and is perfect for brief stops and pick ups.
There are also three multi-storey car parks, suitable for brief trips up to a week long, all situated within walking distance of the terminal buildings.
The Long Stay car parks are perfect for any stay for longer than a week, A courtesy bus service connects the long stay car parks with the terminal buildings.

History of Birmingham Airport

On 8th July 1939 Birmingham Airport was built at Elmdon to meet the needs of the local residents and industries. During the Second World War, the Air Ministry developed the site, constructing two hard runways. Civil flights resumed after the war and by 1954 Birmingham Airport was providing services to Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Jersey although the length of the runways restricted the use of larger aircraft.

In 1966 the main runway was expanded and Birmingham became an international airport. In the late 1970s the opening of the National Exhibition Centre only a few minutes away helped to promote the airport's profile. The Main Terminal was opened by The Queen in May 1984, resulting in an increase in the number of the passengers using Birmingham International Airport. The main runway was extended still further and this attracted scheduled flights to the USA and a wider variety of charter flights to destinations such as the Dominican Republic and Mexico.

A second terminal, the Eurohub was opened in 1991 for use by British Airways and its partners. By 2003 Birmingham International Airport was handling approximately 9 million passengers each year.