
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport (IATA: BHM), formerly Birmingham Municipal Airport and Birmingham International Airport, is a civil-military airport serving Birmingham, Alabama. The airport is located in Jefferson County, five miles northeast of Downtown Birmingham, and is Alabama's busiest airport. It is served by Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, and United Airlines, among others. In the 1940s, Birmingham was considered a potential air transportation hub for the Deep South, but Delta Air Lines, Eastern Air Lines, and the United States Postal Service opted for Atlanta instead.
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Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport is Alabama's busiest airport
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) is Alabama's busiest airport, serving approximately 3 million passengers annually. It is located 4-5 miles northeast of downtown Birmingham, Alabama, near the interchange of Interstates 20 and 59. The airport is a vital economic catalyst for the mid-state region and beyond, contributing an estimated $1.6 billion to the state's economy in 2019.
BHM is a small multi-use civil-military airport that can handle all types of aircraft. It has two asphalt runways, with the main runway being 12,007 feet long and the secondary runway 7,099 feet long. The airport offers a total of 136 flights to 43 airports in 40 cities across the country, connecting travellers to 20 airport destinations nonstop and hundreds more with just one stop.
The airport is served by major airlines such as Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, and United Airlines, as well as low-cost carriers like Southwest Airlines. It is also a hub for AirMed International, a fixed-wing air ambulance company, and handles a significant amount of cargo, with a total landed weight of nearly 200,000 lbs in 2023.
The history of Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport dates back to the 1930s when it was known as Birmingham Municipal Airport. It was renamed Birmingham International Airport in 1993 with the introduction of flights to Canada and Mexico. In 2008, the airport was renamed again to honour Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, a prominent civil rights leader.
The airport has undergone several expansions and renovations over the years, including the addition of a semi-circular terminal in 1973 and the recent construction of a new pier that can accommodate wide-bodied aircraft. It covers 2,170 acres of land and has a large aircraft modification and maintenance facility that sits on approximately 180 acres.
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It is located 4-5 miles northeast of Birmingham
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport (IATA: BHM, ICAO: KBHM, FAA LID: BHM) is located 4-5 miles northeast of Birmingham, Alabama. It is the largest and busiest airport in the state, serving approximately 3 million passengers annually. The airport is a civil-military airport, providing scheduled airline services for the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa metropolitan areas. It is also a major economic catalyst for the mid-state region and beyond.
The airport covers 2,170 acres of land at an elevation of 650 feet above mean sea level. It has two asphalt runways: 6/24, which is 12,007 by 150 feet, and 18/36, which is 7,099 by 150 feet. The main runway is long enough to accommodate all types of aircraft. The airport is served by the nation's three main legacy carriers: American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Airlines, as well as low-cost carriers like Southwest Airlines.
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport has a rich history, dating back to World War II when it was originally built. While it was later expanded, today, little work is performed at the complex. However, the airport continues to be a significant hub for air cargo in Central Alabama, shipping over 200,000 lbs of cargo in 2023. The single largest source of revenue for the airport authority is parking fees.
The airport has undergone several name changes over the years. It was formerly known as Birmingham Municipal Airport and Birmingham International Airport. In 2008, it was renamed Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport after Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, a prominent civil rights leader in Birmingham. The airport has also been the subject of expansion plans, with runway extensions approved in 2009 and a lease agreement signed in 2022 for the construction of a new terminal and hangars.
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The airport covers 2,170 acres at an elevation of 650 feet
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport covers 2,170 acres of land, which equates to 878 hectares. The airport sits at an elevation of 650 feet, or 198 metres, above mean sea level. This elevation is important for air traffic, as it allows for clear visibility of the airport from the air. The airport's two asphalt runways are built to accommodate this elevation: runway 6/24 is 12,007 feet long and 150 feet wide, while runway 18/36 is 7,099 feet long and 150 feet wide.
The airport's elevation and runway configuration enable it to handle all types of aircraft, from small single-engine planes to large Boeing 767s and Airbus A320s. Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport is a hub for AirMed International, a fixed-wing air ambulance service, and it also serves as a distribution point for air cargo in Central Alabama. The airport's cargo operations include the movement of wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 757-200 and 767-300F, as well as the Airbus A300-600F.
The airport's elevation and size also contribute to its role as a vital economic catalyst for the mid-state region and beyond. In 2024, the airport served 3,243,023 passengers, making it the largest and busiest airport in Alabama by passenger volume. Additionally, the airport offered 136 flights to 43 airports in 40 cities in 2017, further emphasising its role as a significant transportation hub.
The size and elevation of the airport have also allowed for the development of various facilities. For example, there is a large, full-service aircraft modification and maintenance facility on the south side of the airport. This facility sits on approximately 180 acres of land and offers 1.7 million square feet of covered space. Additionally, the airport's elevation has likely influenced the construction of tall structures such as the air traffic control tower and very tall television transmitter towers located just southwest of the airport.
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It is served by Delta, American, United, and Southwest Airlines
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) is located in Birmingham, Alabama. It is a small multi-use airport that covers 2,170 acres of land at an elevation of 650 feet above mean sea level. The airport is located five miles northeast of downtown Birmingham, near the interchange of Interstates 20 and 59.
BHM is served by Delta Air Lines (and its Delta Connection affiliates), Southwest Airlines, American Airlines (and its American Eagle affiliates), and United Airlines (and its United Express affiliates). These airlines connect travellers to 20 airport destinations across the country, with the ability to reach hundreds of other domestic and international locations with just one stop.
In addition to passenger services, BHM also serves as a distribution point for air cargo in Central Alabama. The airport accommodated 3,243,023 passengers in 2024, making it the largest and busiest airport in Alabama by passenger volume. It is also Alabama's busiest commercial air passenger facility, serving approximately 3 million passengers annually.
BHM has two asphalt runways: 6/24 and 18/36. The main runway, 6/24, is 12,007 feet long and 150 feet wide, while the secondary runway, 18/36, is 7,099 feet long and 150 feet wide. The airport can handle all types of aircraft and is equipped with a Category II ILS, allowing operations in visibility as low as a quarter-mile.
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The airport is also a hub for AirMed International
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport (IATA: BHM, ICAO: KBHM, FAA LID: BHM) is a civil-military airport serving Birmingham, Alabama. It is the largest and busiest airport in Alabama, serving over 3 million passengers in 2024. The airport is also a hub for AirMed International, a fixed-wing air ambulance company.
AirMed International, LLC, is based in Birmingham, Alabama, and is an FAA-approved fee-for-service air ambulance airline. AirMed offers international services to all countries except Iraq, North Korea, and Libya. The company was founded in 1987 as MEDjet International and was renamed AirMed International in 2003. AirMed holds accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) and the European Aero-medical Institute. It is also an accredited service provider with the International Assistance Group (IAG).
AirMed is a member of the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) and has created an air ambulance industry website, allowing medical transport programs to share current information regarding delays or cancellations. Additionally, AirMed offers a pre-paid air ambulance membership for individuals and families called AirMed Traveler. In 2011, AirMed International was named the Official Air Ambulance of INDYCAR and the Izod IndyCar Series.
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport covers 2,170 acres at an elevation of 650 feet above mean sea level. The airport has two asphalt runways and can handle all types of aircraft. The main runway is 12,007 feet long, while the secondary runway is 7,099 feet long. The airport provides scheduled airline services for the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa metropolitan areas.
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Frequently asked questions
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport is Alabama's busiest commercial air passenger facility and the largest and busiest airport in the state. However, it is not a hub. In the 1940s, Birmingham was considered a potential air transportation hub for the Deep South, but Delta Air Lines, Eastern Air Lines and the United States Postal Service opted for Atlanta.
A hub airport is a transit point from which an airline can transport passengers to various destinations.
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport is located at 33.5639° N, 86.7533° W.
The top airlines at Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport include Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, and United Airlines.
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport covers 2,170 acres at an elevation of 650 feet above mean sea level. It has two asphalt runways and is home to AirMed International's main hub, a fixed-wing air ambulance company.
































