Birmingham International Airport Information
About Birmingham Airport Facilities
Birmingham International Airport serves over 100 scheduled destinations including 13 domestic and more than 87 European, transatlantic and worldwide services. It has two passenger terminals both with two levels, the upper floor for departures and the ground floor for arrivals. Both terminals offer extensive passenger facilities with Departure Lounges in which passengers can enjoy a wide range of high street retail and catering.
Facilities in the terminals also include airport information; baby change facilities; Business Lounges; car hire desks; cash machines; currency exchange; Internet access; left luggage; prayer room; and visitor information.
The History of Birmingham Airport
The Airport was opened at Elmdon, Birmingham on 8th July 1939 and was owned and operated by Birmingham City Council. It was designed to meet the needs of Birmingham and the surrounding areas' residents and industries. Civil aviation ceased a few months later with the outbreak of the Second World War and the Air Ministry requisitioned the airport. During this time two hard surface runways were built to replace the original grass strip. The airport re-opened for civil flying in July 1946.
In 1949, scheduled services started with a British European Airways flight to Paris. Flights to the continent grew steadily during the next decade including services to Zurich, Dusseldorf, Palma, Amsterdam and Barcelona. A terminal extension, known as the International Building, was opened in 1961 and transatlantic services to New York commenced in the late sixties. By the early 1970s over one million passengers a year were passing through a now congested Passenger Terminal.
In April 1974, the newly formed West Midlands Metropolitan County Council took over the Airport. The new council undertook studies into the expansion of the airport. This study coincided with the rapid growth of passengers and the development of The NEC (National Exhibition Centre) and Birmingham International Rail Station adjacent to the airport. Following a public enquiry approval was granted by the Government in 1979, for a new passenger terminal building and associated facilities. Her Majesty The Queen opened the new facilities in 1984 and operations were transferred to the new passenger terminal.
Ownership of the airport passed to West Midlands District Joint Airport Committee in 1986 and the following year the airport’s status changed to that of a Public Limited Company, wholly owned by the seven local district councils. With record growth in passenger figures, the need for further expansion became clear. In 1991 the £60 million Eurohub was opened by the Duchess of York. It offered passengers a quick and efficient transfer through the airport and gave easy access with British Airways regional services to over 20 European and North American destinations. In 1999 Birmingham International Airport celebrated its 60th anniversary and a record 7 million passengers passed through the Airport’s two terminals.
Her Majesty The Queen opened the new Millennium Link block in 2000. Three years later Birmingham International Airport's £11 million Air-Rail Link people mover system and the £7 million public transport Interchange opened. A £30m refurbished Departure Lounge in Terminal 1 was completed in 2007 along with enlarged security facilities and a redeveloped Immigration Hall. The airport’s growth continues steadily with passenger figures topping 9.1 million in 2007.
