Within the next five months, Birmingham Airport’s lengthened runway will open, allowing airlines to offer direct services to such distant destinations as the west coast of America, South America, South Africa and the Far East.
This means that the hated journey down to Heathrow or Gatwick, hopefully, will become a distant memory. Certainly for the time-pressed business traveller, this new facility will be a boon, cutting costs and making life a lot easier.
I understand that negotiations are well advanced with interested carriers wishing to offer a whole range of destinations, which will almost certainly mean more jobs at the airport as Birmingham starts to further develop as a hub.
Already, Air Blue, with its new flights to Islamabad and Lahore, is getting a positive response from the public with their twice-a-week economy only flights, and I would not be surprised to see the frequency increased in the near future.
I do hope that Birmingham Airport will grasp this once in a lifetime opportunity, for I learn from airline operators that landing charges suggested are a bit on the steep side.
A long term view should be taken for I am certain very few Midlanders will want to continue to use London airports given the hassle of the M25, let alone the less than convenient rail links.
However, as with most other services, it will be a matter of cost, and I hope that carriers will not be deterred. I am also certain that a lot of additional custom will come from Mid-Wales and the East Midlands, with many prospective travellers from the South-West, using the fast links of the M5 and M42 directly into Birmingham Airport’s ever expanding facilities.
In terms of timing, this runway development could not be better, for business activity in the region is slowly increasing after years of decline. Companies will be encouraged to send sales staff all over the world looking for opportunities. A much quicker journey will be a great aid, providing that fare structures are reasonably priced.
For once therefore, a very good news story which will benefit both the business community and tourists. Just think, direct flights to such places as Beijing, Rio de Janerio and San Francisco.
Truly mouth-watering. I can’t wait.
* Russell Luckock is chairman of pressings firm AE Harris
