Infrastructure, Construction & Developments

[tompo]

If BHX never had Paul Kehoe we would no runway extension or international pier, so we should be thankful.
On the flip side PK was obsessed by seeing the BA tail fin at BHX and easyjet / Ryanair were overlooked to a certain extent.

Just for the record, I didn’t state that that everything Paul initiated was suppressed as the majority of these were not and will never be in the public domain. Importantly, although I mentioned one particular individual, similar remarks could be directed to his predecessors and current successor. Incidently, the redesigned International pier, had already been mooted and prior funded at the time of Paul’s tenure.

 

[joepublic]

If BHX never had Paul Kehoe we would no runway extension or international pier, so we should be thankful.
On the flip side PK was obsessed by seeing the BA tail fin at BHX and easyjet / Ryanair were overlooked to a certain extent.

I have to disagree with you on this. Construction of the new International Pier started in early 2008 and Paul Kehoe was appointed in October 2008 so he had no influence over this development except that he was in post when it opened.
Whilst he was CEO through the whole runway extension project I can't agree that without him it wouldn't have been built. What you have to understand is that the council shareholders were very keen on the runway extension. In 2008 Macquarie, who were very anti the runway extension, along with Aer Rianta sold their shares in BHX to AGIL. During the sale process the councils made it fairly clear to bidders for the shares that one key factor in gaining their (the council's) support for a bid would be a commitment to fund the runway extension. Paul Kehoe certainly oversaw the process but it would have happened irrespective of whether he had been CEO or not.

 

[Timberwolf]

I have to disagree with you on this. Construction of the new International Pier started in early 2008 and Paul Kehoe was appointed in October 2008 so he had no influence over this development except that he was in post when it opened.
Whilst he was CEO through the whole runway extension project I can't agree that without him it wouldn't have been built. What you have to understand is that the council shareholders were very keen on the runway extension. In 2008 Macquarie, who were very anti the runway extension, along with Aer Rianta sold their shares in BHX to AGIL. During the sale process the councils made it fairly clear to bidders for the shares that one key factor in gaining their (the council's) support for a bid would be a commitment to fund the runway extension. Paul Kehoe certainly oversaw the process but it would have happened irrespective of whether he had been CEO or not.

I think you can also credit Mr Keehoe with building the MAEL/ now STS.

Monarch Engineering were looking for a location for a large engineering hangar, and Mr K apparently jumped in and attracted them to BHX.

A real tragedy that MAEL went bust after the airline as it way very busy and provided many high quality visitors.

STS a pale shadow, but we do get the odd decent visitor like the S7 and Air Canada's.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Apologies if these have been posted before but there are one or two that I haven't seen.

CGI's of the new security area.

CGIs of 'next generation' security hall coming to BHX

Polished CGIs of Birmingham Airport's new security hall have been released ahead of the travel hub's major rebuild

www.birminghammail.co.uk

 

[Brum X]

Reference	PL/2023/01450/DIS
Alternative Reference	PP-12266764
Application Received	Tue 04 Jul 2023
Application Validated	Tue 04 Jul 2023
Address	Birmingham International Airport Airport Way Birmingham Airport Solihull B26 3QJ
Proposal	Discharge condition No. 3 (materials) following planning approval PL/2022/01445/PPFL.

 

[Ray Finkle]

So the images we saw a while back were just to indicate the scale and now the materials have been chosen this will be the final design?

I don't think that is too bad, although I'll reserve final judgement until it is done.

I wonder if there could be an option to include a couple of digital advertising screens just to soften the blank walls of the lift shafts?

 

[rollo]

Personally I'd prefer if they retained or install new escalators as passengers arriving by rail/monorail or the NEC will need to go down to check in then back up to departures.

I know that they are installing four lifts but given a choice of an escalator or a lift I'm sure people would just step on the escalators just like they do in shopping centres etc.rather than find a lift.
Yes BHX say they are space restricted but I bet H&S is the driving force behind it as is the case on arrivals into immigration, I can't remember the last time I've seen that used and on our last trips it's taped off so people are lumping their hand luggage down the stairs instead of using the small lift.

The LBA part of the forum recently have a similar discussion over the same thing.

Moan over.

P.S. looking forward to the new security machines making things much more simple and quicker although I bet the great British public will find a way to bugger it up, especially the individual in front of me.

 

[adamak1]

I quite like the design, it looks clean and modern. However, I don’t think it looks that great with the current exterior of the terminal. Unless the airport plans to change the exterior of the other side at a later date to match the new one then I can see it working but right now I personally think it will look odd.

 

[Matty_85]

I don’t mind the lifts, just wish they had been completely glass, would have made a nice feature and let a bit more light in.

 

[Timberwolf]

Apologies if these have been posted before but there are one or two that I haven't seen.

CGI's of the new security area.

CGIs of 'next generation' security hall coming to BHX

Polished CGIs of Birmingham Airport's new security hall have been released ahead of the travel hub's major rebuild

www.birminghammail.co.uk

.Just looks like an ordinary corridor and basic hallway with some lifts in it..Taking an age just to build these basic structures.

 

[Brum X]

I quite like the design, it looks clean and modern. However, I don’t think it looks that great with the current exterior of the terminal. Unless the airport plans to change the exterior of the other side at a later date to match the new one then I can see it working but right now I personally think it will look odd.

But then again, when do we ever think like that in this country, nothing is ever joined up thinking.,

Sorry I forgot to post the updated check in area's on my recent visit to BHX

 

[Timberwolf]

Before Covid a new plane de-icing facility was built at BHX ,at some expense, by the fuel farm close to the 20s stands.
This as the current one was to be demolished as part of the new lounge extension/baggage facility being built close to the 50s stands .

With that work now seemingly indefinitely mothballed is the new de-icing facility now being used or is that mothballed too ?

Thanks

 

[Timberwolf]

But then again, when do we ever think like that in this country, nothing is ever joined up thinking.,

Sorry I forgot to post the updated check in area's on my recent visit to BHX

View attachment 28767

PIA ?
Then 7 airlines could be anywhere..

 

[Ray Finkle]

An update of sorts on the security area progress.

It's good to see that there has been 'lots of interest from restaurant and retail brands'.

Birmingham Airport new security terminal under construction

Pictures from behind the scenes at Birmingham Airport in August 2023 show its new £40 million security hall under construction

www.birminghammail.co.uk

 

[BHX492]

Be good if that happens, but do we have enough room (parking stands) for all these possible based aircraft in 2024? 2 extra FR, 1 extra TOM, 3, extra EZY, and extra Jet2 as well??

FR 6
TOM 12
EZY 3
LS 16+

thats at least 37 aircraft minumum based, and add it the night stoping aircraft, KL, LHx2, AF, SN possibly? 42+ night stopping aircraft? How many stands do we have?

judging by the map I would say we could probably have 47 including widebody

 

[tompo]

Plus the option to use the Elmdon Site for remote parking. No great effort to bus passengers to the other side. Currently, a large swathe of the apron is not utilised efficiently.

 

[Deleted member 8277]

Plus the option to use the Elmdon Site for remote parking. No great effort to bus passengers to the other side. Currently, a large swathe of the apron is not utilised efficiently.

Bussing over ok but bussing back not an option due security and a long drive for an already useless pax bus operation. A problem you don't understand is to get back from the elmdon site requires passing through hangar road security that is already useless for staff and cannot be used for pax.

 

[Coathanger16]

Plus the option to use the Elmdon Site for remote parking. No great effort to bus passengers to the other side. Currently, a large swathe of the apron is not utilised efficiently.

Bussing over ok but bussing back not an option due security and a long drive for an already useless pax bus operation. A problem you don't understand is to get back from the elmdon site requires passing through hangar road security that is already useless for staff and cannot be used for pax.

With the security/airside issues, probably what would be easier is to park the aircraft overnight over at the Elmdon site, then tow them over to the terminal once the earliest of the first wave of flights have departed.

Taking today as an example, the first Jet2 departure was at 06:00 and then the last of the first wave departs at 08:10. Equally for TUI the times are 06:00 and 08:00. Also the nightstopping KLM, Lufthansa and Air France all depart by 07:00.

By 07:00 there's already been about 20 departures, so plenty of stand will have been freed up.

Where are we at with the reconfiguration of the T2 stands? That would provide a few more stands where previously they could only accommodate turboprop sized aircraft.

 

[Nethercote2019]

With the security/airside issues, probably what would be easier is to park the aircraft overnight over at the Elmdon site, then tow them over to the terminal once the earliest of the first wave of flights have departed.

Taking today as an example, the first Jet2 departure was at 06:00 and then the last of the first wave departs at 08:10. Equally for TUI the times are 06:00 and 08:00. Also the nightstopping KLM, Lufthansa and Air France all depart by 07:00.

By 07:00 there's already been about 20 departures, so plenty of stand will have been freed up.

Where are we at with the reconfiguration of the T2 stands? That would provide a few more stands where previously they could only accommodate turboprop sized aircraft.

There are 3 or 4 stands that are only used for equipment storage rather than aircraft. Reconfiguring of stands on south side of south terminal is due to be carried out this winter.

 

[Timberwolf]

Be good if that happens, but do we have enough room (parking stands) for all these possible based aircraft in 2024? 2 extra FR, 1 extra TOM, 3, extra EZY, and extra Jet2 as well??

FR 6
TOM 12
EZY 3
LS 16+

thats at least 37 aircraft minumum based, and add it the night stoping aircraft, KL, LHx2, AF, SN possibly? 42+ night stopping aircraft? How many stands do we have?

BHX have 2 more larger airliner stands now after the inner Eurohub stands were realigned last winter.

Two more B737/A321 planes can now be accommodated where only Dash/E145/ATR could fit before.

This is continued coming winter, where the other side of Eurohub, then the 20s remotes will see similar stands realigned.Another 2 737/321 stands that side by summer 2024. So 4 in total around Eurohub compared with summer 2022.

Then an extra 1 on the 20s remotes

So by summer 2025 BHX with have another 5 B737/A321 stands available .

The only down sides are that the only widebodied stand on Eurohub (8C) is downgraded from Code D (B777/787/330/350) down to code C (B737/A321s).

Similarly the end B767-300 stand on the 20s also goes, to fit in 2 A321/737s.

I am personally more worried about new widebodied stands.No plans for some years for any of them.