BIRMINGHAM Airport has announced an £100m investment into improving its facilities – including hold-baggage screening, self-service check-in and additional car parking.
Major improvements include a drop-off car park – which will be free for up to 30 minutes and connect to the main terminal entrance – and existing car parks will be upgraded.
A number of self-service bag drop kiosks will be installed, as well as a digital check-in, to help passengers and speed up the process.
Chief executive, Paul Kehoe said: “We have seen enormous growth at Birmingham Airport over the last few years and we are currently welcoming 11 million passengers a year through our terminal.
“We’re therefore making this investment to enhance operational efficiency and improve the passenger journey in time for the summer 17 season, when we’ll welcome fifteen new routes with Jet2 and anticipate in excess of 12 million passengers over the next year.
A hold baggage screening system will be updated with the latest advanced baggage x-ray operation to double to the amount of baggage which passes through every hour.
He added: “Looking more long-term, Birmingham Airport is in a unique position as in ten years’ time it will become the UK’s only HS2 connected airport, growing the catchment into London with high-speed trains and serving Birmingham from the capital in 30 minutes.
“We’re therefore working on our master plan to look at options which maximise the benefits of HS2 for Birmingham, the wider region, airlines and passengers.
“This will allow us to scope out how we can create a truly integrated transport network that can take the pressure off the overheated London system and transform our facility from a 25 million potential passenger site to 60 million plus in the future.”
