Birmingham Airport: Plane Landings And Operations

Birmingham Airport, located 6 miles from Birmingham city centre, has one terminal building, with the check-in and arrivals halls on the ground floor. The airport is served by the Birmingham International Railway Station, which can be reached via a free Air-Rail Link shuttle. The Arrivals Hall has a small selection of facilities, including WHSmith, Boots, and Marks and Spencer Simply Food. As of January 15, 2025, recent arrivals include British Airways, Qatar Airways, and Delta Air Lines.

Arrivals and facilities at the airport

Birmingham Airport is located 6 miles southeast of Birmingham city centre, in Solihull. The airport has a convenient location for those travelling to The NEC Birmingham, just 1 mile away. The airport is easily accessible by car, train, and bus.

Birmingham Airport has one terminal building, with the check-in and arrivals halls located on the ground floor. The Arrivals Hall has a small selection of facilities, including WHSmith, Boots, Marks and Spencer Simply Food, Costa Coffee, Deli Hub, Frankie and Benny's, car hire desks, ATMs, and free Wi-Fi access. There are also three on-site hotels: Ibis, Novotel, and Travelodge.

If you are dropping off family or friends, there is a Drop and Go car park directly outside the airport terminal. This is the most convenient route for passengers, and parking charges are £1 for 10 minutes. However, this car park is not recommended for picking up passengers as it can be expensive if there are delays. Instead, there are three car parks available for short stays within easy access of the Arrivals Hall.

Birmingham Airport is served by the Birmingham International Railway Station, which can be reached by a free Air-Rail Link shuttle. Trains to Birmingham New Street are operated by Virgin Trains, London Midland, Arriva Trains Wales, and CrossCountry, with an average journey time of 13 minutes.

Bus services are ideal for those travelling to the local area. Network West Midlands Buses operate five bus services to and from destinations including Coventry, Sutton Coldfield, and Erdington. The National Express also offers services to Oxford, Milton Keynes, Manchester, and London, among other cities.

Drop-off and parking options

Birmingham Airport has several options for dropping off or picking up passengers, catering to different needs and budgets.

The Premium Set Down service is located right outside the terminal building, just a one-minute walk to the check-in desks. This option is ideal for passengers with lots of luggage or young children. It costs £6 for the first 15 minutes, and electric vehicle charging points are available.

The Drop Off car park is free for up to 10 minutes and is a 5 to 10-minute walk to the terminal via a covered walkway. A free bus service also operates between the car park and the terminal. Please note that the Drop Off car park has a no-return policy within one hour.

For those meeting passengers, Car Parks 1, 2, and 3 are the most convenient options, located just a 1-2 minute walk from the terminal and with tariffs starting from £9.50 for up to an hour. These multi-storey car parks are easy to access for both passengers and drivers.

To ensure the free flow of traffic and minimise congestion, Birmingham Airport operates red routes around the site. These are clearly marked, and stopping, unloading, or parking in these areas is not permitted. Any vehicle found in breach of these restrictions will face an enforcement charge of £100, reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.

Transport to and from the airport

Birmingham Airport is conveniently located in the centre of England, with excellent transport links to major UK locations. The airport is easily accessible by bus, coach, train, or car.

Bus and Coach

National Express operates regular bus and coach services to Birmingham Airport, with buses running throughout the day and night. Local bus services connect the airport with Birmingham City Centre, Coventry, Solihull, and other nearby locations. National Express also offers direct coaches to the airport from major areas across the UK, including Oxford, Luton, Milton Keynes, and Manchester. Coaches stop directly outside the terminal building, with some services also going to Birmingham Interchange train station, where passengers can take the Air-Rail monorail to the airport. Tickets for the National Express coach from Birmingham Coach Station to Birmingham Airport Terminal start at £3.80, with a journey time of around 25 minutes.

Train

Birmingham Airport has its own train station, Birmingham International, which is just a 2-minute journey from the airport via the Air-Rail monorail service.

Car

For those travelling to the airport by car, Birmingham Airport recommends arriving at least 3 hours before the scheduled flight departure time. The airport offers a range of facilities, including restaurants, bars, shops, and currency exchanges, providing plenty of options to pass the time before departure.

Check-in and departure lounges

Birmingham Airport, located 6 miles from Birmingham city centre, has one terminal building. The check-in and arrivals halls are located on the ground floor, with the departure lounge on the first floor. Birmingham Airport recommends that passengers arrive at least 90 minutes before their flight time. If you're travelling on a long-haul flight, an earlier check-in may be required, so it's best to confirm this with your airline in advance.

The check-in halls are divided into two sections. Check-in desks 1-82 are located in section 1 and are home to the majority of the airlines. Check-in desks 100-130 are in section 2 and are operated by Air France, Eastern, Flybe, KLM, and Tui. Most airlines offer online check-in, but the times vary, so be sure to confirm the times and conditions with your airline. If you have checked in online and are travelling with hold luggage, you will need to take it to the bag drop desks in the check-in hall. These typically close 60-45 minutes before the flight.

The departure lounge offers a wide variety of shops, places to eat, premium lounges, and free Wi-Fi access. The Arrivals Hall has a smaller selection of facilities, including WHSmith, Boots, Marks and Spencer Simply Food, Costa Coffee, Deli Hub, Frankie and Benny's, car hire desks, ATMs, and free Wi-Fi access.

Airlines operating at Birmingham Airport

Birmingham Airport, located in the West Midlands, is a hub for many airlines, serving over 150 destinations across the world. The airport caters to both business and leisure travellers, offering European city breaks and long-haul getaways.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Birmingham Airport remained open, but with strict control measures in place. Airlines such as Jet2.com, Ryanair, and Tui continued to operate, providing international flights. As of 2023, some of the airlines operating from Birmingham Airport included Aer Lingus, Air France, easyJet, Ryanair, Turkish Airlines, and Wizz Air. These airlines offered flights to various destinations, including Belfast, Paris, Dublin, Istanbul, and Bucharest.

In addition to these carriers, Birmingham Airport has also attracted other notable airlines. For example, German carrier Eurowings launched a new route to Majorca, providing more options for travellers. The airport also serves as a base for holiday airlines, such as Jet2.com and Ryanair, which have established international hubs there.

Birmingham Airport is an important gateway, providing connections to a wide range of global destinations. While the Covid-19 pandemic caused some disruptions and reductions in services, the airport has continued to adapt and recover, ensuring safe travel for passengers.

Frequently asked questions