Infrastructure, Construction & Developments

[Timberwolf]

Is it a complete block or are they just prioritising the security development as that needs to be done by June next year to meet government requirements?

If work on the lounge extension doesn't start again in W24/25 I'd be surprised. When it was announced it was advertised by the airport as being needed to allow the airport to hit 18mppa. With the airport looking like it will hit pre-covid levels next summer, the airport will be back to where it was when it announced the extension.

Yes but BHX lost so much money during Covid they are notvspendingvany money that isnt essential.
Flew back into BHX yesterday.We were held on taxiway V on arrival as the pilot stated our allocated stand guidance system was broken.
When we eventually were guided onto the stand the pilot apologised again. Saying the airbridge was broke and we had to await steps on the 50s to get off.
Told BHX is not allocating money that isn't essential.

 

[Ray Finkle]

HALFWAY THERE: THE STORY SO FAR OF BHX’S SECURITY HALL BUILD

Exclusive footage was released today showing the ongoing construction of Birmingham Airport (BHX)’s £50m new security hall.

Time-lapse video conveys the scale and complexity of the project to transform the Midlands transport hub.

This is just one of the upgrades in BHX’s £300m capital investment programme, which will take it from a 12m-customer-a-year airport today to one serving 18m customers a year by 2033.

Work on the new security hall has made significant progress since April, with the state-of-the-art facility due to open in June 2024.

New scanning equipment will ensure BHX complies with new regulations that come into force in June 2024, and enable BHX to process customers more effectively and efficiently.

BHX is using this as an opportunity to make the terminal more pleasant and welcoming for customers.

A new, solar panel-clad roof is being built across part of the terminal, providing natural light, and helping power the terminal with green electricity.

The external façade of the terminal is being extended outwards and four 50-person lifts are replacing the existing escalators.

This will create more space inside the building and make the walking route to the Departures and the air-rail link station area simpler and easier for customers.

The project team is working 21 hours a day to get the work done safely and on time.

Stephen Barker, development director for BHX, said: “We have made great progress in the last six months on delivering a reconfigured facility which will transform the passenger experience at Birmingham Airport with a more efficient pre-flight screening process capable of serving greater volumes of people more effectively.

“We thank customers and staff for bearing with us as we carry out this work in our operational areas. To date we have been successful in maintaining our programme and, with continued support and cooperation, we expect to meet our shared goal of providing a great new facility for everyone.

“There will be further changes to walking routes in the next few weeks. We’d ask everyone to remember that, in June 2024, the result will be worth it.”

https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/media-information/news/2023/10/halfway-there-the-story-so-far-of-bhx-s-security-hall-build/

 

[Aviador]

The Manchester members wanted a dedicated thread for the terminal work there. I've created a new thread for the Leeds Regeneration Programme so I'm more than happy if you'd like to create a dedicated thread for the work taking place at BHX?

 

[Ray Finkle]

I'm more than happy if you'd like to create a dedicated thread for the work taking place at BHX?

More than happy to but I didn't think it was worth it just for the new security area?

If/when any terminal extensions restart we already have a thread for the latest master plan where it can be discussed further?

 

[Aviador]

More than happy to but I didn't think it was worth it just for the new security area?

If/when any terminal extensions restart we already have a thread for the latest master plan where it can be discussed further?

No problem I just thought I'd put that out there.

 

[Brum X]

What is this, Ryanair's own dedicated terminal, loooooooooooooooooooooooool

Reference	PL/2023/02228/PPFL
Alternative Reference	PP-12528495
Application Received	Mon 23 Oct 2023
Application Validated	Fri 27 Oct 2023
Address	Terminal Building Airport Way Birmingham Airport Solihull B26 3RT
Proposal	Erection of boarding queuing area.

 

[Derwent Dale]

What is this, Ryanair's own dedicated terminal, loooooooooooooooooooooooool

Reference	PL/2023/02228/PPFL
Alternative Reference	PP-12528495
Application Received	Mon 23 Oct 2023
Application Validated	Fri 27 Oct 2023
Address	Terminal Building Airport Way Birmingham Airport Solihull B26 3RT
Proposal	Erection of boarding queuing area.

What is this, Ryanair's own dedicated terminal, loooooooooooooooooooooooool

Reference	PL/2023/02228/PPFL
Alternative Reference	PP-12528495
Application Received	Mon 23 Oct 2023
Application Validated	Fri 27 Oct 2023
Address	Terminal Building Airport Way Birmingham Airport Solihull B26 3RT
Proposal	Erection of boarding queuing area.

Ye gods! Where are they intending to plant that shed?

 

[Onlinespeedy]

Ye gods! Where are they intending to plant that shed?

Stand 8C, delightful…

 

[JENNYJET]

Gadzooks !! It will be a themepark soon if Ryanair get it's own terminal. O'Leary themed bouncy castles and themed burgerbars and merchandise sands anyone ?

 

[Timberwolf]

View attachment 29597
Stand 8C, delightful…

This was supposed to be a new bussing lounge with seating ,according to the masterplan.

Yet its now been downgraded to what the airport are now coldly calling just a "boarding queue hall".Looking at the other drawings looks like with no seating.

Shocking and incredibly cheap looking, hang your head in shame BHX. ANYTHING to save money..they need proper investors ..a standing cattle shed.

 

[Matt995]

full planning application, and documents can be found here:-

https://publicaccess.solihull.gov.u...s.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=S2ZLS2OEM9300

 

[Coathanger16]

This was supposed to be a new bussing lounge with seating ,according to the masterplan.

Yet its now been downgraded to what the airport are now coldly calling just a "boarding queue hall".Looking at the other drawings looks like with no seating.

Shocking and incredibly cheap looking, hang your head in shame BHX. ANYTHING to save money..they need proper investors ..a standing cattle shed.

From what I can see, rather than it being an extension to the departure lounge - which would be woefully poor - its more just a covered waiting area for the remote stands off the end of the pier (which I believe are getting reconfigured this winter to be able to fit A320/B737 sized aircraft).

Ultimately it depends on how the space will be used and how long the average passenger will spend in the space. If there's no seating at all, even for PRMs, that would suggest there would be no "loitering" planned in the space and that the only time spent in the space would be queuing in which case isn't it better to queue in a sheltered environment rather than exposed to the elements.

Whilst not as glamorous as some other airports expansions, if it allows for certain airlines to expand their offering from the airport, that then means more passengers and therefore more income for the airport to invest in better enhancements for the airport.

 

[Ray Finkle]

This from the planning statement posted above.

As can be seen from the submitted plans, the BQA does not offer facilities for passengers aside from a space for them to be assembled prior to their departure onto the aircraft. This reflects the “last step” of their journey through the Airport onto the aircraft. Crucially, this is not seen as an extension to the existing terminal, but rather something akin to a simple holding area for passengers, prior to departure.

It seems as if it's not much more than a large bussing area where hopefully pax will spend a minimal amount of time so doesn't really need to be anything other than basic. Hopefully they'll make it a pleasant environment though as it will be one of the last impressions for departing pax.

If it means more space available in the terminal area and the eventual possibility of the existing bus areas then being used to expand immigration and/or the baggage area then I'm all for it

 

[BHXisLife]

This was supposed to be a new bussing lounge with seating ,according to the masterplan.

Yet its now been downgraded to what the airport are now coldly calling just a "boarding queue hall".Looking at the other drawings looks like with no seating.

Shocking and incredibly cheap looking, hang your head in shame BHX. ANYTHING to save money..they need proper investors ..a standing cattle shed.

Might as well call it an assembly hall. I envision many Ryanair passengers being sat in cold steel chairs, while getting scolded by Headmaster O'Leary for being naughty kids!

 

[Deleted member 8277]

Looks extremely cheap and nasty.

 

[thunderchild]

Dublin has/had something similar, an awful octagonal cattle shed with little or no facilities. I only ever went through it once on a Ryanair flight back to BHX - there were also flights departing to various other U.K. cities and the place was rammed with boarding lines all tangled up with each other. It was absolutely horrendous and the worst part was that once you’re in there you can’t go back to the departure lounge so if your flight gets delayed you’re stuck in there. Thought at the time it was maybe a temporary facility so not sure if it’s still the same, this was pre pandemic and when we’ve been since it’s been with Aer Lingus.

 

[Brum X]

Gadzooks !! It will be a themepark soon if Ryanair get it's own terminal. O'Leary themed bouncy castles and themed burgerbars and merchandise sands anyone ?

And not forgetting the scratch cards, he he he he he

 

[Timberwolf]

From what I can see, rather than it being an extension to the departure lounge - which would be woefully poor - its more just a covered waiting area for the remote stands off the end of the pier (which I believe are getting reconfigured this winter to be able to fit A320/B737 sized aircraft).

Ultimately it depends on how the space will be used and how long the average passenger will spend in the space. If there's no seating at all, even for PRMs, that would suggest there would be no "loitering" planned in the space and that the only time spent in the space would be queuing in which case isn't it better to queue in a sheltered environment rather than exposed to the elements.

Whilst not as glamorous as some other airports expansions, if it allows for certain airlines to expand their offering from the airport, that then means more passengers and therefore more income for the airport to invest in better enhancements for the airport.

Well it says itself how it's to be used.

As a hall to queue in !

It was supposed to be a lounge with seating according to the master plan so I don't know how that can be promoted ad anything other than a shocking downgrade from the masterplan ?

My worry now is that BHX will now use it as an excuse to further delay or even abandon the lounge /baggage hall extension which was mothballed after Covid.

Quite clear that BHX is looking at ANY way to slash spending, at a time when BRS,STN,MAN, LGW have all announced big terminal expansion plans.

We get a queuing cow shed instead

 

[nwoody2001]

Well it says itself how it's to be used.

As a hall to queue in !

It was supposed to be a lounge with seating according to the master plan so I don't know how that can be promoted ad anything other than a shocking downgrade from the masterplan ?

My worry now is that BHX will now use it as an excuse to further delay or even abandon the lounge /baggage hall extension which was mothballed after Covid.

Quite clear that BHX is looking at ANY way to slash spending, at a time when BRS,STN,MAN, LGW have all announced big terminal expansion plans.

We get a queuing cow shed instead

Where in the airport masterplan have you found this information?! Other than what the structure is called, I can’t see any tangible difference between what’s been proposed and what was committed to in the masterplan?

 

[Coathanger16]

Well it says itself how it's to be used.

As a hall to queue in !

It was supposed to be a lounge with seating according to the master plan so I don't know how that can be promoted ad anything other than a shocking downgrade from the masterplan ?

My worry now is that BHX will now use it as an excuse to further delay or even abandon the lounge /baggage hall extension which was mothballed after Covid.

Quite clear that BHX is looking at ANY way to slash spending, at a time when BRS,STN,MAN, LGW have all announced big terminal expansion plans.

We get a queuing cow shed instead

Where in the airport masterplan have you found this information?! Other than what the structure is called, I can’t see any tangible difference between what’s been proposed and what was committed to in the masterplan?

https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/media/5538/birmingham-airport-master-plan-2018-webres.pdf

The only reference to the bussing lounge in the master plan that I could find is:

"There are currently two bussing lounges in the North terminal with a total of 12 gates and two individual bussing gates in the South terminal.

As part of the check-in reconfiguration in the North and South terminals, space will be freed up in the south pier to develop a new bussing lounge facility to serve the re-configured stands."

That would suggest the new bussing lounge would be located within the South Pier itself rather than an extension on the end of the pier - and looking at Appendix B of the master plan it is in the South Pier with a "terminal extension" to the South of the pier as well. It's not that we're getting this "queueing area" rather than the bussing lounge. They're two completely different things! The new bussing lounge can't be started until the check in area has been re-configured which also hasn't started yet.

On the other hand, since before the pandemic I believe we've gone from 4 based Ryanair aircraft to 6 with potentially another one from next Summer which is also when we're getting 3 based easyJet aircraft which could grow to 5 in the future. That's an additional 6-8 based aircraft. The new queueing area maximises the use of the newly reconfigured stands and allows those new based aircraft and airlines to grow.

By all means view things through a negative lens, but on the other hand since the master plan was produced in 2018, we've had:

- Thomas Cook and Flybe collapse, collectively accounting for 23.4% of BHXs passenger throughput
- A global pandemic that practically shut down aviation for several years, costing airports and airlines £bns
- A government requirement to update security
- Soaring inflation with little to no growth in the general economy
- 2 wars in the far Eastern areas of Europe
- The 2nd largest LCC in Europe opening a base at the airport

To criticise the airport for not continuing with projects that were planned over 5 years ago ignores all that has happened in those 5 years and any business that ignored what has happened likely wouldn't stay in business for long.

Simply put, priorities have changed and the airport only has a finite budget available per year. That is currently being spent on the security reconfiguration and the stand reconfiguration around the South Terminal - the latter of which WAS in the master plan. Both of these will be completed by next summer, freeing up capital to be spent from next winter on other projects - lets see what those are.