Birmingham Airport - General Thread

[ronnoc1k8]

The article is blocked by some stupid subscription tab.

 

[ronnoc1k8]

Anyway, this is awesome news, finally they realise.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there ray and all, I agree with previous post, this is certainly good news, also regarding the PM, she's currently got a majority of 12, which with the thought of losing a significant amount of ministerial posts in protest to this heathrow expansion, which would cost her, her majority, then force a snap general election, to which would cause uneasy ness if labour were to win if corbyn got in and became PM, which could destabalise a fragile economy that we have. Then the thought of a third runaway costing probably in the end £25,000,000,000 billion pounds in total, would prove to costly for a third runaway, it would then take 10 to 20 years to complete, then stun growth at regional level. My option if I were PM, would be to deny heathrow the third runaway, then opt for a second runaway at Gatwick at a lower cost, then start looking at Birmingham Airport as an alternative for expansion, to then make Birmingham smaller hub version of heathrow, by giving it the area in which grow further, ie a second runaway and another terminal, terminal 1 would serve local and national flights and some short haul ,then terminal two would serve not just short haul flights, but also long haul flights, so then you would have Heathrow and Gatwick that would serve the southern part of the Uk, Birmingham would then serve all of the west, east, south and north of the midlands, then Manchester Airport would be there to serve the whole of the north of the Uk. Of this is only my idea, baring the cost involved to give heathrow a second runaway, I know which option I would take, that would be Gatwick and not heathrow, because I think that heathrow has had its day of being the number one in uk, now lets someone else have a go and make things better for everyone....Andyc

 

[IanFarquharson]

A larger airport at Birmingham, after the city is linked to London by the high-speed HS2 rail line, is being considered by Theresa May as a possible solution to the capital’s aviation congestion.
Jim O’Neill, the Treasury minister, has urged Number 10 to look at the growth potential at Birmingham airport, which would be less than 40 minutes away from London after HS2 reaches the Midlands in 2026.
Lord O’Neill, whose brief covers infrastructure and regional development, argues that Birmingham would also offer exceptional links to the Northern Powerhouse cities of Leeds and Manchester once a northern extension is completed in 2033.
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His intervention comes as Mrs May’s new administration grapples with the more immediate decision on meeting London’s airport’s needs, a decision widely seen as a binary choice between Heathrow and Gatwick.
Officials working on that decision, which could come as soon as next month, say they are only considering the rival merits of Heathrow and Gatwick — the two options outlined in Sir Howard Davies’s airports review.
While business leaders have long demanded a new runway, successive administrations have grappled with the decision — in part because of its environmental implications.
At the weekend it emerged that the government may give MPs — including ministers — a free vote on the issue this autumn in an unprecedented move designed to avoid a damaging cabinet split. Vociferous critics of the Heathrow third runway include Boris Johnson, foreign secretary, and Justine Greening, education secretary.
A leaked document by a senior civil servant referred to “potential waiving of collective responsibility” and even “allowing ministers to speak against the government’s position in the House” to break the political impasse. That would mark a re-run of the EU referendum campaign, when Tory ministers fought on both sides of the historic plebiscite.
Theresa May should embrace Britain’s devolution revolution
The UK prime minister must not resile from devolving power from Whitehall, writes Sebastian Payne
While Mrs May’s administration believes it is too late for Birmingham to be reintroduced into the debate, some figures argue the airport could be identified for expansion as part of a longer-term airports strategy.
Lord O’Neill, former chief economist at Goldman Sachs, has told Number 10 that opting for a big expansion at Birmingham would send “a massive signal on rebalancing the British economy”, according to officials close to the talks.
The minister’s representations on Birmingham’s future role are being taken seriously in Number 10; Mrs May’s co-chief of staff Nick Timothy hails from the city and wants the government to focus more attention on the Midlands.
But Sir Howard eliminated Birmingham from his review at an early stage, arguing there was “not a strong case for expansion” as an answer to the aviation capacity crunch in London and the south-east.
His commission said in 2013 that Birmingham airport would not be operating at capacity until the mid-2040s and that expanding it would lead to an increase in noise for a relatively high number of people.
But it added that expansion of Birmingham “may merit reconsideration as part of any future assessment of options for a second new runway, particularly as the long-term impacts of HS2 on patterns of travel and aviation become clearer”.
Paul Kehoe, Birmingham airport chief executive, has supported the expansion of Gatwick as the solution for meeting the shorter-term aviation needs of London and the south-east.
Mrs May launched her Tory leadership bid in Birmingham with a promise to broaden the government’s regional policy away from just “one or two cities” in the north. The Conservative party conference will also be held in the city in October. But Downing St insists it is not downgrading George Osborne’s Northern Powerhouse project.
Instead, Mrs May’s team, which includes Mr Osborne’s former adviser Neil O’Brien, says it is looking to supplement the northern strategy with a particular focus on the Midlands; Bristol is also seen as a good centre upon which to build the strategy

 

[Aceshigh]

Just to be clear.

£25bn is actually
£25,000,000,000 m not
£25,000,000,000 bn

Funnily enough latest estimates now suggest it could be as high as

£36bn
Or £36,000,000,000


It would be funny to ask our MPs if they can do the sums. I'm not sure they can.

Thst said if you believe the Evening Standard there is a throw away comment that the decision has already been made and it's a yes for RW3 !!

 

[Ray Finkle]

Birmingham will see £1 billion worth of investment into the Curzon Street area ready for the arrival of HS2.

BIRMINGHAM INVESTS £1 BILLION TO GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK FOR HS2

There are some words in the article from Prime Minister May. After being more or less totally ignored by the previous regime I'm starting to like the noises being made by Mrs May. Lets hope that they at least give us a fair crack of the whip.

Thst said if you believe the Evening Standard there is a throw away comment that the decision has already been made and it's a yes for RW3 !!

Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest, in fact I'll be very surprised if it doesn't happen

 

[JENNYJET]

Expand Gatwick, give them one more runway and expand Birmingham.

PERFECT

Essay alert!!!!

Forgive me if I appear ignorant but can any West Midlands citizen say they would welcome the trawl to Gatwick if BHX had a similar or better offer?

Heathrow is a hobbyist heaven, but as a traveller, just checking in on time was probably a contributing element to my first Stroke, navigating the M42/M40/M25 and praying that no damned idiot would close the road due to carelessly contriving to make life expensive and hell for other innocent motorists.

Gatwick could be considered as a dedicated 'one to visit' opportunity for Midlanders as a hobbyists location. It is best for those living south of Putney Bridge.

As to South Eastern expansion, Stansted sticks out like my big toe, lots of available growing space, a very long runway and ground infrastructure based upon US Military methods of construction. Simply, it is in a rural location.

My solution to SE congestion is to expand Stansted, Upgrade Heathrow and leave Gatwick in peace.
Thus we have London North, Central and South.

As for cuddly Birmingham, a friendly place and probably the easiest airport to travel from and arrive into, an airport that can boast two of the MEB3, a daily A380, Daily India, regular Pakistan, Daily NYC via New Jersey, a well catered Mediterranean loco market, the occasional exotics and the usual Charter ops to Caribbean and the Southern States of America and the eastern coasts of Mexico.

So, where are the big brains and salaried advisory staff? Would I be unkind in thinking that we being typically British?

Look at the competition, Asia, Middle East, Russia and the United States of America. They just get on with the job and create the magnificent facilities and the beneficial dividends simply follow....

That was my consensual contribution, so what about flattening Marston Green and a substantial part of Sheldon to enable such expansion of BHX to act as a London reserve airport together with a similar arrangement with Manchester whilst developing it's own identity as an airport to visit as a tourist as well as a traveller seeking to fly to Sydney or Jakarta or Cape Town on a shiny new A350 or yet to be built B777x?

My request to members is to Write, Email, Telephone ones MP, and attempt to illustrate the importance of BHX to the Midlands, economiclly, socially and in terms of local potential Jobs, revenues to Her Majesties Revenues and Customs the the simple benefits by not needing to endure the ordeal of Travelling to London with the risk of missing flights and the insurance claims that may follow.

End of Essay and I thank those that remain to the end

 

[Brummiegem]

I think an expanded BHX most of us would like and support.However more importantly the roads infrastructure needs serious upgrading.
This evening I agreed to pick my sister up from the International station.Upon hearing that the A45 between Sheldon and Stonebridge was heavily congested as well as other routes towards Stonebridge were also suffering from heavy traffic I suggested I pick her up from Marston Green instead.
As I live in Chelmsley Wood,a journey to work at the Airport or to either of the stations would normally take between 4-8 minutes.
This evening Coleshill Rd toward Marston Green was almost at a standstill.I managed to turn round and head towards Marston Green via Berwicks Lane and then Moorend Avenue.I met up with my sister by the Tavern in Marston Green village.This took about 15 minutes.
The point is whenever anything goes on that affects traffic on the M42,A45 and anywhere around the NEC,traffic in and around Chelmsley Wood and Marston Green also gets clogged up.This situation will only get worse.
Apologies if you have seen this before,but plenty of interesting things to read.

Scroll down to the-' link to the UK Central website'.http://centreofenterprise.com/m42-economic-gateway/
This is a 200 page document,so downloading will take a while!

 

[Ray Finkle]

It's been horrendous tonight. It's apparently down to roadworks on the A45 but I'm struggling to think of a time when there wasn't roadworks on the A45?

Twitterland isn't happy about it with pictures from people still stuck in the car parks

https://twitter.com/bhx_official/status/776096545972289536?lang=en-gb

 

[JENNYJET]

I understand that the BHX Website had a warning notice indicating major bridge works over the main West Coast railway line and I wonder if this the reason? If so I shall avoid it.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Allowing a third runway at Heathrow would re-forge its monopoly, undermining the benefits brought by the break-up of the BAA, and restrict the growth of direct flights to and from our great regional cities.

http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/news/regional-affairs/prime-minister-urged-support-regional-11891264

At least they are trying but as already said, some believe that the decision has already been made.

 

[JENNYJET]

Forgive my ignorance but do I have a valid argument when I bristle with annoyance every time someone in authority says BHX is 3rd largest outwith the London Circus?

It suggests that BHX is the village airport looking for friends...who are the two above us? I repeat, why constantly refer to BHX as x largest outside the Southeast?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Forgive my ignorance but do I have a valid argument when I bristle with annoyance every time someone in authority says BHX is 3rd largest outwith the London Circus?

It suggests that BHX is the village airport looking for friends...who are the two above us? I repeat, why constantly refer to BHX as x largest outside the Southeast?

In terms of passenger numbers, Manchester and Edinburgh.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I see that our very own Mr Kehoe has been presented with the Lifetime Contribution to Midlands Business Award 2016.

Love or hate the man there is no doubt that today's Birmingham Airport is unrecognisable from when he took over. I think that most of us would agree that he thoroughly deserves it, not just for his work with BHX but for his contribution to the Midlands as a whole.

Well done Mr Kehoe, hopefully the best is still yet to come

http://www.itv.com/news/central/201...sed-for-outstanding-contribution-to-midlands/

 

[Brum X]

Yes he thoroughly deserves this award, he has done great things for BHX

 

[Paulsstrange]

Yes he thoroughly deserves this award, he has done great things for BHX

Agree 100% well done Paul and his team for the rapid growth they have developed At BHX

 

[Aceshigh]

Just come across this. Might be interesting for followers of Birmingham. Lots of unanswered questions re Heathrow which I think deserve answers before we shell out a lot of dosh. I'm not very technical but hopefully it's worked.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

I can only add my congratulations to Mr Kehoe and his team. They have definitely grabbed (a previously lacklustre) BHX by the collar, given it a good shake and thrust it with significant energy into a very promising future.
New routes/airlines, passenger figures and profits confirm this.
A thoroughly deserved award! I only wish I had that collection of models on my desk.

Kevin

 

[nwoody2001]

Well as Paul Kehoe tweets he's heading to Chicago and Toronto on a trade envoy, Tom Screen tweets he's about to board Qatar to the Far East for the next 12 days for the World Routes Congress ....

 

[Ray Finkle]

Well the routes conference doesn't start for another 6 days and only lasts for 3, so 12 days is a long time.

Sightseeing, recovery time from the journey or some business to attend to beforehand?