Birmingham International Airport (BIA) has now formally submitted its application for a runway extension.
The request filed today (7 January) asks for a 405m (1,328ft) extension to the existing 2,605m runway as well as a 150m starter strip and a new air traffic control tower.
Although Birmingham can accept widebodies such as Boeing 747 and 777 aircraft, payload is significantly compromised due to the short runway. ”We want to be able to have fully-laden aircraft to China and the West Coast of America [for example],” a BIA spokeswoman told ABTN.
She declined to say which airlines were evaluating the longer-range services from the Midlands base, noting that ”they won”t guarantee anything at any time.” There is no doubt however, that the UK”s second city with its large population and ready motorway and rail access could prove attractive for carriers.
The planning process will now undergo a 16-week evaluation although this could also potentially take up to a year. At that stage, the application could either be approved or go to a public enquiry.
The news comes as Birmingham closed its existing cross- runway last week. Despite being the same length as London City Airport, it has not been used for two years and indeed Birmingham has dropped plans for a second strip, preferring to concentrate on securing approval for an extension to the current runway (15/33).
”There were plans for a second runway but we have said that won”t be needed before 2030,” said the spokeswoman. ”People can see the need for an extension but not a second runway.”