BRUM IN IT FOR LONG HAUL WITH RUNWAY EXTENSION

07-01-2008

Birmingham Airport has finally submitted plans for a runway extension that could link the region with China and the West Coast of America. Many long-haul passengers currently have to travel to Heathrow or Manchester.

The detailed application for the longer runway was taken in six large boxes to Solihull Council on Friday following extensive local consultation – but it will be more than three months before its voted on by the local authority.

While environmental campaigners can be expected to raise objections to the scheme, there is a green argument – as well as a persuasive business case - for the development.

It will mean that BIA can host larger planes capable of flying longer distances – and unless the proposal is approved, we can be confident travellers from the West Midlands will continue travelling north or south (usually by road) to fly to their chosen destinations.

Economically, it is also vital that this area has (at least) as many international connections as our rival regional capitals around Europe.

As the airport’s Acting MD Joe Kelly puts it, “The connectivity that the runway extension could bring is vital for the future economic well being of the region and equally important to further establishing the region on the world stage.”

Airlines like Emirates and PIA can be expected to explore the possibility of new direct routes if the application is approved, with China and the West Coast of the US being the most obvious new destinations.

The runway extension also has the virtue of causing relatively little disruption; it will entail the re-routing of the A45 under a new tunnel, but will impact directly only upon a small number of people in Bickenhill with increased noise. The extra tarmac will go onto privately owned fields that are in the process of being purchased.

Far better this option than the plan for a second runway which has now been dropped – that would have involved much greater disturbance to local people while only catering for “more of the same” in terms of aircraft and destinations.

The application is likely to be made available for public inspection by Solihull Council later this week. The pdf format file can be downloaded now at the Airport’s website http://www.bhx.co.uk/Planning/351.pdf

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