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Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) is a civil-military airport located in Jefferson County, Alabama, serving the city of Birmingham and the wider metropolitan area, including Tuscaloosa. The airport is named after Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, the founding president of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport |
| IATA | BHM |
| ICAO | KBHM |
| FAA LID | BHM |
| Location | Jefferson County, Alabama |
| Distance from Birmingham | 5 miles northeast of Downtown Birmingham |
| Nearby Interstates | 20 and 59 |
| Passengers (2024) | 3,243,023 |
| Aircraft Types | All |
| Main Runway Length | 12,007 feet (3,660 m) |
| Secondary Runway Length | 7,099 feet (2,164 m) |
| Visibility Operations | As low as a quarter-mile |
| Renamed | July 2008 |
| Renamed After | Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth |
| Airlines | Delta Air Lines, Capital Airlines, Southern Airways, FedEx Express, UPS, Kuehne+Nagel |
| Aircraft | Vickers Viscounts, ATR-72, Boeing 757-200, Airbus A300-600F, KC-135 Stratotanker, Bombardier CRJ700, Embraer E-175, Boeing 717, Boeing 737, Airbus A319/A320 |
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What You'll Learn
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport's history
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport, formerly Birmingham Municipal Airport and later Birmingham International Airport, is a civil-military airport serving Birmingham, Alabama. It is located in Jefferson County, five miles northeast of Downtown Birmingham, near the interchange of Interstates 20 and 59.
Commercial air service to Birmingham began in 1928 by St. Tammy and Gulf Coast Airways, at Roberts Field on the west side of Birmingham on a route from Atlanta, Georgia, to New Orleans, Louisiana. Delta Air Service began service to Birmingham in late 1929 with six-seat Travel Air planes along a route from Love Field in Dallas, Texas to Birmingham. The airport, which opened on May 31, 1931, featured a two-story, white, Georgian-style terminal and a single east-west runway. With the addition of American Airlines in 1931 and Eastern Airlines in 1934, air traffic increased enough to warrant a second runway.
In advance of World War II, the Birmingham Municipal Airport was certified by the U.S. Department of War as a "national defense project", meaning that the United States would pave the runways at no cost to the city. In February 1942, two months after the U.S. declared war, the entire airport was leased to the Army Air Corps for $1 a year. The Corps improved the facility by acquiring land, paving more taxiways, and constructing an air traffic control tower.
In October 1993, the airport marked the completion of a $50.4 million terminal renovation, with flights up to 77 departures per day, serving nearly 2.1 million passengers that year. Direct service was added to destinations in Mexico and Canada, and on October 20, 1993, the name was officially changed to Birmingham International Airport. By 2000, air traffic was up to 81 daily departures with non-stop service to 28 cities and direct flights to 48 cities.
In 2008, Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford proposed renaming the airport Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport to honour Civil Rights leader Fred Shuttlesworth. The proposal was received favourably by the Airport Authority, which voted to make the change on July 16, 2008. The name change cost about $300,000, and the FAA approved the name change and signage took place on April 3, 2009.
In 2011, the airport broke ground on a comprehensive Terminal Modernization Project, which was completed in phases over three years, retaining extensive renovations to the 1973 landside terminal, demolishing the 1962 terminal and 1973 airside concourses and gates, and constructing all new airside facilities with 19 gates. In 2020, the Birmingham Airport Authority Board of Directors voted to restructure the outstanding debt of the airport's revenue bonds, resulting in interest savings of over $33 million.
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Airlines and aircraft
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport (IATA: BHM, ICAO: KBHM, FAA LID: BHM) is a civil-military airport located in Jefferson County, Alabama, five miles northeast of Downtown Birmingham. It is Alabama's largest and busiest airport by passenger volume, serving 3,243,023 passengers in 2024. The airport can handle all types of aircraft and has two runways: the main runway is 12,007 feet long, and the secondary runway is 7,099 feet long.
The most common aircraft serving Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport are the Bombardier CRJ700/CRJ900, Embraer E-175, Boeing 717, Boeing 737, Airbus A319/A320, and ATR-72. The airport is home to several major airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. These airlines offer nonstop flights to various destinations, including Tampa, Denver, New York, and Orlando.
FedEx Express and UPS Airlines also operate daily cargo flights to and from the airport. FedEx operates the Boeing 757-200, while UPS uses the Boeing 767-300F and Airbus A300-600F. These are the only wide-body aircraft that routinely use the airport. Mountain Air Cargo also operates daily flights to Memphis using the ATR-72 twin-turboprop aircraft on behalf of FedEx Express.
In addition to these major airlines, regional airlines provide a large share of daily air carrier service to Birmingham. Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport also serves as a primary diversion airport for Atlanta Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport due to its long runway, which occasionally brings unique visitors. The airport's proximity to the city can make it difficult to find at night, and pilots should be aware of restricted areas, including the large Air National Guard ramp that is off-limits to civil aircraft.
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Airport facilities and services
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) is a small multi-use civil-military airport located in Birmingham, Alabama. It is the largest and busiest airport in Alabama by passenger volume, serving 3,243,023 passengers in 2024. The airport is located in Jefferson County, five miles northeast of Downtown Birmingham, near the interchange of Interstates 20 and 59.
The airport has two runways: the main runway, which is 12,007 feet (3,660 m) long, and a secondary runway, which is 7,099 feet (2,164 m) long. The main runway is long enough to allow a fully loaded Boeing 747 to land or take off. A Category II ILS allows operations in visibility as low as a quarter of a mile. The airport can handle all types of aircraft, from small single-engine planes to wide-body jets.
There are two fixed-base operators (FBOs) on the airfield that provide general aviation services. The airport is also home to the Sumpter Smith Air National Guard Base, which covers approximately 147 acres and supports the mission of the 117th Air Refueling Wing, an Alabama Air National Guard unit. The base includes facilities for airport equipment and helicopter landing/parking.
The airport has a complex taxiway system that provides access to services located around it. There is a large Air National Guard ramp that is off-limits to civil aircraft, and signage and markings identify the restricted areas of the airport.
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport is a primary diversion airport for Atlanta Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport due to its long runway. The airport has a staffed U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility on-site.
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Airport operations and procedures
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport (IATA: BHM, ICAO: KBHM, FAA LID: BHM) is a small, multi-use civil-military airport located in Birmingham, Alabama. It is the largest and busiest airport in Alabama, serving 3,243,023 passengers in 2024. The airport is located in Jefferson County, five miles northeast of Downtown Birmingham, near the interchange of Interstates 20 and 59.
The airport has a complex taxiway system that provides access to services located around the airport. There are two FBOs on the airfield that provide General Aviation services. A large Air National Guard ramp is off-limits to civil aircraft, and signage and markings identify the restricted areas of the airport. The airport configuration consists of intersecting runways 6/24 and 18/36, and the airspace is Class C. The main runway is 12,007 feet long, with a secondary runway of 7,099 feet. A Category II ILS allows operations in visibility as low as a quarter of a mile.
Pilots should review the airport diagram to familiarise themselves with restricted areas and taxiways. When taxiing on TWY A and holding short of RWY 18/36, pilots should be aware of the slight turn to the shorter and narrower TWY N. If climbing above 10,000 feet, pilots must use one of the departure fixes found on the Birmingham Eight Departure. Controlled departure times may be in effect for select destination airports, and Land and Hold Short (LAHSO) clearances may be issued to general aviation aircraft.
Aircraft departing IFR from RWYs 24 and 18 will not be issued turns to the south or west until they are above the very tall television transmitter towers (1102 AGL) located southwest of the airport. Calm RWYs are RWY 6 and RWY 36. Pilots should exercise caution due to similar-sounding RWY numbers and wildlife in the vicinity of RWYs and TWYs. All aircraft must have clearance to depart the Class C airspace, and VFR departures require flight following.
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Airport authority and staff
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport (IATA: BHM, ICAO: KBHM, FAA LID: BHM) is located in Jefferson County, Alabama, five miles northeast of Downtown Birmingham. It is the largest and busiest airport in Alabama, serving over 3.2 million passengers in 2024. The airport is named after Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, the founding president of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights.
Airport Authority
The Birmingham Airport Authority was established in 1986 by the Birmingham City Council to manage the airport and oversee its growth. The authority is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors, appointed by the Mayor of Birmingham and confirmed by the Birmingham City Council. The day-to-day operations are managed by the President and CEO, supported by a staff of over 100 employees across five departments. These departments include Administration, Airport Operations, Airport Planning, Facility Maintenance, and Engineering and Development.
Staff
The Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport is home to four major airlines, providing more than 100 daily flights to 15 cities. The most common aircraft serving the airport include the Bombardier CRJ700/CRJ900, Embraer E-175, Boeing 717, Boeing 737, Airbus A319, and Airbus A320. The airport also accommodates a range of other aircraft, from small single-engine planes to wide-body jets like the Boeing 767-300F and Airbus A300-600F.
The airport offers a variety of services and amenities for passengers, including food and retail options. The staff ensures a smooth travel experience, from check-in to boarding, and provides essential ground support for aircraft operations. This includes ground handling, baggage handling, and aircraft maintenance personnel, as well as air traffic controllers who manage the complex taxiway system and ensure safe aircraft movements.
The airport also has a strong military presence, with the Sumpter Smith Air National Guard Base located on-site. This base supports the mission of the 117th Air Refueling Wing, an Alabama Air National Guard unit, and its KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft. The military personnel and operations at the airport contribute to its designation as a civil-military facility.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport in Birmingham, Alabama is called Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport.
The airport code for Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is BHM.
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport has two runways. The main runway is 12,007 feet (3,660 m) long, and the secondary runway is 7,099 feet (2,164 m) long.
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is home to four major airlines, including Delta Air Lines. Regional airlines provide a large share of daily air carrier services, with the most common aircraft being the Bombardier CRJ700/CRJ900, Embraer E-175, Boeing 717, and Airbus A319/A320.
