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Birmingham Airport, formerly Birmingham International Airport, is an international airport located 13 km southeast of Birmingham city centre in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, England. The airport offers international flights to destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. It is home to airlines such as easyJet, Jet2.com, Ryanair, and TUI Airways. In 2017, Birmingham Airport was the seventh busiest airport in the UK, serving over 12.9 million passengers. Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport, on the other hand, is located in Birmingham, Alabama, and is the largest and busiest airport in the state. It serves the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa metropolitan areas and is located five miles northeast of downtown Birmingham. This airport has also seen significant developments, including the addition of a sensory room in 2019 and a modernisation project in 2022.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Birmingham Airport (formerly Birmingham International Airport) |
| Location | 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi) east-southeast of Birmingham city centre, in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull |
| Connectivity | Served by the A45 main road, near Junction 6 of the M42 motorway, and connected by the Air-Rail Link to Birmingham International railway station |
| Airlines | easyJet, Jet2.com, Ryanair, TUI Airways, American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines |
| Destinations | Europe, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, and previously the Bahamas, Canada, and Mexico |
| Passenger Traffic | 12.9 million in 2017, making it the 7th busiest airport in the UK |
| History | Opened as Elmdon Airport in 1939, used by the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy during World War II, and reopened to civilian operations in 1946 |
| Facilities | Car rental, parking with over 5000 spaces, a free cell phone waiting lot, a sensory room, the Primeclass Lounge, and the U.S. Civil Rights Trail Market |
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What You'll Learn
Location and accessibility
Birmingham Airport, formerly Birmingham International Airport, is located 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi) east-southeast of Birmingham city centre, 9.5 nautical miles (17.6 km; 10.9 mi) west-northwest of Coventry, slightly north of Bickenhill village, in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, England. The airport is easily accessible by road, being primarily served by the A45 main road, and is near Junction 6 of the M42 motorway. It is also connected to Birmingham International railway station on the West Coast Main Line by the elevated Air-Rail Link.
The airport's location relative to the city, as well as the direction of its only operational runway, means that aircraft approaches are made over built-up areas depending on the wind direction. This has led to some noise complaints from residents.
Birmingham Airport is easily accessible for residents of Birmingham and the surrounding areas, with 8 million people living within a one-hour drive of the airport. However, less than 40% of them use the airport, and a rebrand in 2010 aimed to increase the airport's visibility and attract more passengers.
The airport is the seventh busiest in the UK, with a passenger throughput of over 12.9 million in 2017. It offers international flights to destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. It is an operating base for several major airlines, including easyJet, Jet2.com, Ryanair, and TUI Airways.
In addition to its road and rail connections, Birmingham Airport also has a history of innovation in transport links. It was once home to the world's first commercial maglev system, a low-speed shuttle that operated between the terminal and the nearby Birmingham International railway station from 1984 to 1995. This was replaced by a cable-hauled system in 2003, which reused much of the original infrastructure.
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History and development
Birmingham Airport, formerly Birmingham International Airport, is located 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi) east-southeast of Birmingham city centre, in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, England. The airport was officially opened as Elmdon Airport on 8 July 1939. During World War II, it was requisitioned by the Air Ministry and used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy as RAF Elmdon, primarily for flight training and wartime production. On 8 July 1946, the aerodrome was reopened for civilian operations.
In the post-war years, Birmingham Airport hosted several public events, including air fairs and races. In 1949, scheduled services commenced with British European Airways (BEA) launching routes to Paris. Over the years, the number of flights to the continent steadily increased, with services to Zurich, Dusseldorf, Palma, Amsterdam, and Barcelona introduced between 1955 and 1960. In 1960, the City of Birmingham resumed responsibility for the airport's operations, ending central government control.
To accommodate the growing international traffic, an additional terminal building, aptly named The International Building, was opened in 1961. From 1967 to 1970, the airport's main runway was extended to 7,400 feet (1.4 miles), enabling the introduction of new services using turboprop and jet-powered airliners. In 1984, Birmingham Airport became home to the world's first commercial maglev system, a low-speed maglev shuttle connecting the terminal to the nearby Birmingham International railway station. However, due to reliability issues, the maglev rail link was discontinued in 1995.
In the early 1990s, Birmingham Airport continued to expand and improve its infrastructure. Runway 18/36 was extended to 7,100 feet, making it accessible to airline jets. The airport also enhanced its air cargo areas, constructing a new facility for FedEx and United Parcel Service. In 1993, the airport underwent a $50.4 million terminal renovation, and its name was officially changed to Birmingham International Airport following the introduction of flights to Canada and Mexico.
In 2001, a new FAA air traffic control tower, standing at 198 feet (60 m) tall, entered service. The airport continued to make improvements, receiving funds through various programs and initiatives. In 2010, the airport underwent a rebrand, dropping "International" from its name to become simply "Birmingham Airport." This change was intended to create a new corporate identity reflecting the airport's position in the market and its future potential.
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Airlines and destinations
Birmingham Airport, formerly Birmingham International Airport, is located 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi) east-southeast of Birmingham city centre, in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, England. The airport offers international flights to destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent.
As of April 2025, there are 26 airlines operating from Birmingham Airport, connecting travellers to 180 airports around the world. These include Aer Lingus, Air France, Air India, Aurigny, Blue Islands, Brussels Airlines, Corendon Airlines, easyJet, Emirates, Eurowings, Jet2, KLM, Loganair, Lufthansa, Med View Airlines, Pegasus, Qatar Airways, Ryanair, SAS, Saudia, SunExpress, SWISS, TUI, Turkish Airlines, Vueling, and Wizz Air Malta.
The most frequently departed route is to Dublin, Ireland, with an average of 77 flights from Birmingham Airport every week. The two longest flights from Birmingham Airport are to Cancun, Mexico, and Delhi, India, with flight times of around 10 hours and 8 hours and 35 minutes, respectively. In addition to these, Birmingham Airport also offers direct flights to various other destinations, including Belfast, Zurich, Düsseldorf, Palma, Amsterdam, Barcelona, and many more.
Birmingham Airport is an operating base for several low-cost carriers, including easyJet, Jet2.com, Ryanair, and TUI Airways, making it a popular choice for travellers seeking affordable travel options.
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Facilities and amenities
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport (IATA: BHM, ICAO: KBHM, FAA LID: BHM) is a civil-military airport serving Birmingham, Alabama. It is located 4-5 miles northeast of Downtown Birmingham, near the interchange of Interstates 20 and 59. The airport is the largest and busiest in Alabama, serving approximately 3 million passengers annually.
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport offers a wide range of facilities and amenities to cater to the needs of its passengers and ensure a comfortable and convenient travel experience. Here are some of the key facilities and amenities available:
Transport Links
The airport is well connected to the surrounding area and offers several transport options for passengers. The Air-Rail Link provides a direct connection to Birmingham International Railway Station on the West Coast Mainline. A free shuttle service also operates between the terminal and the remote long-term parking lot, ensuring easy access for passengers.
Parking
The airport provides ample parking options for both short-term and long-term stays. The parking deck offers over 5,000 spaces for hourly and daily parking, while the remote lot offers more than 700 spaces for long-term parking.
Rental Car Services
For passengers who require a rental car during their stay, the airport houses eight rental car companies within its rental car facility, located on the ground floor of the parking deck.
Sensory Room
A sensory room was added to Concourse B in 2019 to provide a calming and relaxing space for individuals with autism, PTSD, dementia, or other similar conditions. This amenity helps to make the airport experience more accessible and inclusive for all travellers.
Primeclass Lounge
In late 2020, a new 1,100 square-foot "Primeclass Lounge" was opened in Concourse B, offering travellers a comfortable and relaxing space to wait for their flights.
Retail and Dining Options
The airport offers a variety of retail and dining options for passengers, including the U.S. Civil Rights Trail Market, which opened in August 2022. Passengers can also expect to find a range of shops and restaurants throughout the concourses and terminals.
Modernisation and Upgrades
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport has undergone several modernisation projects to enhance the overall airport experience. This includes upgrades to parking deck elevators, terminal flooring and furnishings, jetway carpeting and paint, and improvements to Wi-Fi, cell service, and LED lighting. These upgrades ensure that the airport remains modern and efficient, providing a seamless travel experience for its passengers.
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Economic impact and significance
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in Alabama by passenger volume, serving approximately 3 million passengers annually. In 2024, the airport served 3,243,023 passengers. In 2019, the airport was responsible for an estimated $1.6 billion "economic impact" for the state. The airport is home to major airlines such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. The airport also has a significant impact on the local economy through job creation and the support of local businesses.
The airport offers nonstop flights to 20 airport destinations across the country, and travellers can reach hundreds of domestic and international locations with just one stop. The airport has a staffed U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility on site and has offered scheduled seasonal international flights to the Bahamas, Canada, and Mexico in the past. In addition, air ambulance operator AirMed International regularly operates to and from destinations worldwide, and corporate aircraft frequently depart and arrive from foreign destinations.
Birmingham Airport in England, formerly Birmingham International Airport, is also a significant contributor to the economy. In 2017, the airport saw a passenger throughput of over 12.9 million, making it the seventh busiest airport in the UK. The airport is an operating base for easyJet, Jet2.com, Ryanair, and TUI Airways. Birmingham Airport is easily accessible, located 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi) east-southeast of Birmingham city centre, and is well-connected by road and rail.
The airport has undergone several improvements over the years, including the addition of an elevated Air-Rail Link with Birmingham International railway station and the development of a new corporate identity to enhance its position in the market. Birmingham Airport holds a CAA Public Use Aerodrome Licence, allowing flights for public transport and flying instruction. The airport has a rich history, having been used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy during World War II and later reopened for civilian operations in 1946.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Birmingham Airport is an international airport located 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi) east-southeast of Birmingham city centre, in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull. It offers international flights to destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent.
Birmingham Airport was formerly known as Birmingham International Airport. In September 2010, it was announced that the airport would drop the term "International" from its name.
Birmingham Airport is the seventh busiest airport in the UK, with a passenger throughput of over 12.9 million in 2017. It is home to airlines such as easyJet, Jet2.com, Ryanair, and TUI Airways. The airport also once featured the world's first commercial maglev system, which operated from 1984 to 1995.
