A new high-speed rail link between Birmingham and London could help attract around 750,000 extra passengers to Birmingham airport and boost the local economy, a new report has found.
It showed an additional £52 million could be delivered to the UK and £34 million to the West Midlands a year as a result of HS2.
The report published today, The West Midlands Aviation Opportunity,outlined the potential Birmingham airport has in terms of job and economic growth.
It showed the airport contributed £1.7 billion in GVA (gross added value) and almost 40,000 jobs to the UK in 2014.
The report also showed the impact scrapping Air Passenger Duty would have on the airport. It claims an extra 2.9 million passengers could use Birmingham airport if the controversial tax was abolished.
Paul Kehoe, chief executive of Birmingham Airport, said: "This report clearly demonstrates the vast potential of Birmingham Airport as an economic driver, not only to the West Midlands, but to the UK as a whole.
"The impact of the airport is in the same bracket as the positive impact HS2 will have on our region and, as a region, we need to do everything we can to make as many of these scenarios become a reality."
Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, added: "Birmingham Airport is a vital cog in driving the Midlands engine for growth, providing the connectivity that our thriving businesses need to trade, export and secure investment.
"The central message of this report is that, to build on this success, our region must work hand in hand with central government to grasp new global opportunities for the country.
"Now is the time to work together to make the most of HS2, reform air passenger duty and support the continued growth of new routes to destinations around the world, to plug our region into new markets and enable us to play our full part in rebalancing the economy."
Andy Street, chairman of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP, said: "The scenarios highlighted in this report show the contribution Birmingham Airport is making, and can make, to the future of our region.
"If we all work together I am confident we can create the right conditions for the airport to contribute significantly to the GBSLEP region in terms of growth and job creation over the next few years."