Infrastructure, Construction & Developments

[Aviador]

Re: Infrastructure Developments

It's ironic because airports have spent years boasting about having more than one terminal and now BHX has gone the other way. It makes sense from a passenger perspective though because it can be frustrating knowing you have to travel between terminals to catch connecting flights so anything that make it easier for transiting passengers has to be a good thing..

 

[User0001]

Re: Infrastructure Developments

Its going to give BHX a good image for passengers, as it means no confusion as to who oerates where (especially at MAN when AF is going to operate from T3 AND T2 this summer!!!!

However, will it attract new airlines? Probably not, as the only ones who could possibly see a use to this are those airlines who want to set up a hub with connections, and, theres just no scope as to who that could be.

 

[News Guru]

[textarea]Birmingham Airport runway extension plans get £15.7m boost

A road improvement scheme that would allow the runway at Birmingham Airport to be extended has been awarded £15.7m from the government's Regional Growth Fund. It will form part of the £32.7m cost for the scheme that will also receive funding from the airport and transport authority Centro.

The A45 Coventry Road near the airport would be diverted as part of the plans, which will also allow better access to Birmingham International train station. The runway extension proposals will now be discussed by the airport, which is 'minded to go ahead with the runway extension scheme,' a spokesman said.

The Regional Growth Fund is a £1.4bn fund designed to encourage enterprise, growth and jobs in the private sector. A total of £10m has been provided by Centro and £7m by the airport towards the £32.7m transport initiative involving the A45. The airport is hopeful the runway extension will be operational by 2014.

Source[/textarea]

 

[News Guru]

[textarea]Birmingham Airport board backs runway extension

Birmingham Airport is to invite tenders for its £65m runway extension project later this year, after the plans were approved at a board meeting yesterday. The work is planned to start in 2012 and complete in 2014.

Last week the Government pledged £15.7m from its regional growth fund towards the £32m cost of diverting the A45 trunk road away from the airport perimeter to make space for the 400m runway extension. Extending the runway will allow bigger planes to use the airport with full fuel loads, which could lead to flights to the west coast of America and the Far East.

Source[/textarea]

 

[Aviador]

There is a lot of doubt expressed by a number of people on here in the ability of Birmingham airport to deliver more flights on the back on the proposed runway extension.

Despite this doubt the airport will have had to prove a valid business case for the £65m scheme to extend the runway. Undoubtedly, the airport will have obtained a substantial amount of support from the business community and more importantly the airlines.

Similarly, Manchester airport will have had a similar business case to build it's second runway and still today it is arguably grossly underused to the point where some will argue it wasn't needed in the first place.

Clearly these sort of developments are long term projects and ultimately it could take decades before we can look back and say it was a success and the right thing to do. In the short term the airport can argue the work will improve aircraft performance and reduce aircraft noise.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

You have to wonder whether runway extensions like this will turn out to have been necessary in the eyes of future generations when the latest types of aircraft such as the Boeing 787 and Airbus 350 won't need such lengths of tarmac.

If these aircraft are successful probably all future types of aircraft will be built using more and more composite materials so, whilst in the forseeable future (20-30 years?) there will remain a requirement to accommodate traditionally-built large aircraft and their need for long runways, it may be that extending runways now will only fulfil a short-term need.

Who is to say that in 30 years time the future equivalent of the A380 won't be able to get into the air with a full load to half way across the world from a runway currently considered barely long enough for a small Airbus?

 

[User0001]

Whilst I agree that the runway will prove beneficial, its being marketed all wrong.

The extention will prove valuble in allowing the likes of EK/PIA to take off fully loaded both cargo/pax wise, but, they way this extention has been marketed, it sounds like BHX will suddenly have a multitude of flights to China, west coast USA and the far east, which it wont.

Even near term airlines arnt as prospective as first though. People think that the extention will suddenly open it up to the likes of Delta and AA. AA could manage a B757 to ORD if they so wished, but JFK is their new Euro-hub, so, if a flight with AA was warranted, dont you think AA would be here already? The B757, even fully laiden, has no issues to BHX. Delta could do the same to JFK, as LHR/DUB/MAN all have flights to JFK, but where are they at BHX?

Like I say, the likes of EK, PK and even thomson (long haul)/thomas cook(long haul) may support the extention as it allows their flights to have extra viablitliy, but everyone else, not sure?

 

[News Guru]

[textarea]Birmingham Airport to open merged terminal

Birmingham airport will officially unveil its One Terminal facility today (Friday), the result of a £13 million project to merge the airport’s two separate terminals. The new facility has been operational since February, but is being officially opened by the Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond today.

The merging of the terminals was undertaken in order to ‘improve [the airport’s] operational capabilities and the customer experience.' It is the latest phase of a £100 million redevelopment of the airport, including the construction of a new international pier, multi-storey car park and Air Traffic Control Tower.

The single terminal features a larger, centralised passenger security search area, and enlarged arrivals and onward travel facilities. The Duty Free store has also been doubled in size, and further brands including Superdry, Next and JD Sports will join the airport’s retailers from July. The exterior of the terminal building has also been given a facelift to incorporate the airport’s new identity, with giant faces from different nationalities welcoming customers to the airport.

Source[/textarea]

 

[Aviador]

[textarea]£10 million Birmingham Airport tower latest
by Jon Griffin, Birmingham Mail

THE skyline is rapidly changing at Birmingham Airport – with a new £10 million Air Traffic Control Tower developing at a rate of up to 13ft a day.

On completion in 2013, the new £10 million tower will stand 108ft above ground level and will be home to NATS, the Airport’s air traffic control provider.

“It will also allow them to see the end of the extended runway, a development that will be complete in 2014 and will allow airlines to fly to more long haul destinations worldwide.“

Read More http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top- ... z1aYXqfpS8[/textarea]

It would be great if somebody could keep us up to date with some photos of the new tower under construction.

 

[News Guru]

[textarea]New £5m hangar at Birmingham Airport to be completed this month

A £5 million hangar at Birmingham Airport will be completed on January 26. Around 50 new jobs will be created when Eurojet Aviation, which offers aircraft management, charter and maintenance services, takes over the 41,000 sq ft complex, which will feature an aircraft sales suite, commercial operations centre and maintenance.

Airport chief executive Paul Kehoe said the building would provide a boost in the number of corporate jets using Birmingham. He said: ‘The people who use corporate jets are the people who make the decisions about where to invest. If we can supply a service where people on corporate jets are coming through a quality facility then hopefully they will be pre-disposed to invest in the West Midlands.’

Source[/textarea]

 

[tleeds]

It seems from just scrolling down this page that Birmingham has had a lot of money spent on it over the past few years! I didn't know it needed so much spending on it...?!

 

[CL44]

BHX has had a lot of money spent on it over the last few years (and like most Airports any more money in the kitty is very welcome indeed), but all the money being spent will only work (both for the Airport and the Investors) if there are sufficient returns made on the amount spent.

BHX (like most Airports in the UK) MUST entice/encourage (delete whichever option you want to) other carriers to come into the Airport AND existing carriers to expand their services in order to achieve the returns required.

It is all well and good to say that we are attracting the attention of carriers with the possibility of new services, but until their aircraft land on the tarmac (on a more regular basis than say Hellenic Imperial or Mint) carrying both PAX and cargo (thus generating money), BHX will stagnate and plod on in the same manner as we have for the last few years.

Yes it is encourgaing that the new control tower has been built (and is being finished off even now as I look out of the window of my office), and yes it is encouraging that Eurojet are having their new hangar finished off this month, but we MUST start looking at the future of the Airport by trying to obtain more varied services into using BHX on a regular basis. LHR is basically full (going by available slots), MAN is ploughing ahead, and so we have to start thinking about how we can encourage Airlines to use BHX as a better option than any other Airport in the UK.

Any comments would be appreciated, as well as any suggestions that the Airport could use to their advantage.

Please note that this message is not meant to criticise BHX in any way shape or form. I have always said that my job would be so much easier with more carriers / services being available from/to BHX. At the end of the day I have to earn a living and this is so much easier to do in the freight forwarding industry if I can offer my Customers different options from a more local Airport than LHR/LGW or MAN.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I used BHX for the first time last year and both my wife (who is not remotely interested in aviation or airports for their own sake) and I found it a comfortable and pleasant experience.

It has the feel of a major regional airport and the bits we transited on the way out seemed modern and spacious - it was getting dark as we arrived for our outbound journey so it was difficult to get a feel of the overall layout as strangers to the airport

I remember that we had no difficulty finding the Emirates lounge which I believe is situated in the new International Pier. The lounge is as good as any Emirates lounge we've experienced and better than some.

We arrived back at lunchtime and the arrivals area was more utilitarian though perfectly functional and the staff efficient and quick when we passed through.

I'm sure that BHX could be more used than it is. I remember the current Transport Secretary, when in opposition as the shadow, singling out BHX as an airport well placed to help with displaced traffic from LHR in the future as that airport reaches its limit.

 

[News Guru]

[textarea]Birmingham Airport directors approve runway extension plans

Birmingham Airport's directors have given the go-ahead for plans to extend the runway, the BBC reports. Planning permission for the extension was given in 2009 and the directors met yesterday to discuss the financial implications of the plan.

It is not known when construction will begin Chief executive Paul Kehoe said the runway extension will allow the airport to compete with Manchester for flights to the Far East and the US. Linking up with the high-speed rail project could also turn the airport into a major international travel centre, he added.

For more information on this airport news story visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bi ... m-17211333[/textarea]

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Anything that increases the options from regional airports is a good thing in my view.

Apart from being keen to claw back some of its core catchment that currently uses Manchester, BHX is also well placed for passenger originating and terminating in the South West (especially the West Country) and South Wales.

With its very large core catchment and longer runway BHX would be a good alternative to LHR for some from the South West and South Wales on routes that would not be viable from the South West and South Wales airports, either commercially or operationally or a combination of the two.

That's not to say that I expect BHX to become a mini LHR or even to catch MAN - I don't - but it would be part of an extended choice mix for people south of Birmingham and well to the west of London as well as for those in its primary catchment.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

[textarea]Birmingham Airport in £65m plan to allow expansion

A £65 million project to improve the roads around Birmingham Airport was unveiled today, laying the ground for a runway extension.

The scheme will open up direct flights from the West Midlands to the West Coast of America and to China.

It was announced today that contractors VolkerFitzpatrick and Colas have been jointly appointed for both the A45 Transport Corridor Improvement and the runway extension.

Work will start on the £32m road scheme in July, and it is expected to be completed by next summer, with work on the runway extension starting in June 2013.

The £33m runway project is expected to be in operation by the spring of 2014.

By extending the runway by 405 metres, to 3,000 metres, it will allow planes to travel longer distances and provide direct links to the Far East and West Coast of the United States for the first time.

In addition, the airport is investing £13m in a new air traffic control tower and radar system, which will be operational in 2013, and £9m in a resurfacing of the runway.[/textarea]

Full report at http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2012 ... expansion/

Good news for the West Midlands and airport users, and for jobs during the construction phase.

 

[Aviador]

I have to say, £33m seems rather a lot for a 405 metre stretch of tarmac.

 

[Seasider]

I think that the £33 million is for all the changes to the A45 as well.

 

[Aviador]

I think that the £33 million is for all the changes to the A45 as well.

No the total cost is £65m which covers the road scheme as well.

 

[CL44]

I have noticed that there is a chain link fence been placed on the ramp side (from the gap between Menzies and what was the old immigration appeals office) which appears to strech down for the length of the Old Elmdon Terminal. Some of the concrete barriers blocking access to this part of the site have been removed and a blooming great builders skip has appeared. Now I know that this part of the site is due to be develped but I have not seen any plans as to what will be built in this space.

Has any one got any ideas as to what is being built in place of the old terminal and link building?

Also has there been any decision made about the old control tower as yet? Now that the Aviation experience is being used as a classroom perhaps they could use the old tower for a similar purpose?

Any information would be appreciated.