Chancellor strengthens Birmingham Airport expansion bid

THE Government’s reiteration that it will assess all options for easing air capacity in the South East short of a third runway for Heathrow has been welcomed by business leaders in the West Midlands.

The move, announced by Chancellor George Osborne in his Autumn Statement, supports the case for the expansion of facilities at Birmingham Airport.

Michael Ward, president of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group, said Birmingham Airport currently had the spare capacity to cope with an extra nine million passengers, while this figure will increase to 21 million once the approved runway extension is built in 2014.

“The Chancellor has said that London Heathrow will not gain a third runway and with airport passenger numbers currently standing at 220 million per year, Birmingham Airport will be key in providing the answer to anticipated soaring numbers,” he said.

“By 2030, the Government predicts that 335 million passengers per year will be using our airports and that the three main London airports will be full.”

He said that rather than spend £40bn on a new airport in the Thames Estuary – dubbed ‘Boris Island’ after London Mayor Boris Johnson – the Government should look for logical, cost effective solutions away from the capital in order to relieve air capacity.  

“We currently have excellent transport links to London and once HS2 is built it will take the same amount of time to travel from Euston to Birmingham Airport as it would be to travel from Euston to Edgware Road on the Underground,” said Mr Ward.

“In these austere times, and with a commitment to tackling regional inequalities, the Government would do well to capitalise on Birmingham’s existing capacity and on its growth potential.”

The ambitions for Birmingham are at odds with calls from the CBI to improve facilities in the South East.

CBI director general John Cridland, speaking after the Chancellor’s statement, said: “We have ambitions to build the UK’s export capability and without a world-class hub airport in the South East to service the needs of travellers to all emerging market destinations, this cannot happen.

“UK businesses will be relieved that the Government has come off the fence on this issue. All options should be closely examined and an informed decision needs to be made as soon as possible.”