Birmingham Airport - General Thread

[Coathanger16]

Maybe the airport need to put out regular announcements that can be heard so that they are giving passengers this option. At least it might lessen the number of passengers all squashed in the area near Weatherspoons.

"Please be advised there are more seating areas near to your boarding gate, please follow directions to gate 1-42"

Unlikely to happen. The airport will want passengers to stay in the main departures area to spend money in the shops.

Plus for those of us that are aware there is seating elsewhere, it makes those areas quieter and nicer for us.

Do we know yet what will happen to the current security area (in the link building) once the new one opens next year?

 

[rollo]

Maybe the airport need to put out regular announcements that can be heard so that they are giving passengers this option. At least it might lessen the number of passengers all squashed in the area near Weatherspoons.

"Please be advised there are more seating areas near to your boarding gate, please follow directions to gate 1-42"

Definitely not Coathanger16 has it spot on, most people seem to want the shopping, drinking or eating or even all three experiences so leave them to it. Meanwhile leave the rest of us to enjoy the relative quiet, their is always the option of the premium lounges if you want to stump up.

 

[richard winterbourn]

I travel from Bhx frequently and try to give myself plenty of time to negotiate security. So, frequently, i have a lot of time to kill airside.

Generally, i gravitate to the international pier where it is quieter and easier to find a seat. However, it is a pity that they have taken away the seats at the far end where the windows face onto the runway.

The logic of that beats me. Please Bhx management, put them back...

 

[Brum X]

I travel from Bhx frequently and try to give myself plenty of time to negotiate security. So, frequently, i have a lot of time to kill airside.

Generally, i gravitate to the international pier where it is quieter and easier to find a seat. However, it is a pity that they have taken away the seats at the far end where the windows face onto the runway.

The logic of that beats me. Please Bhx management, put them back...

Yes BHX, We demand you put them back.

 

[Ray Finkle]

There was also a small coffee shop or WhSmith located on the international pier the last time I visited in May ?

The coffee shop next to WHS is still there. It used to be Costa but when I was there in August it was having a refit to SOHO Coffe Co. I think it was. Great place to sit and watch the aircraft

I definitely think more could be made of T2, maybe some more prominent signage? I've seen the T1 departure lounge absolutely heaving yet a little stroll across to T2 and we're in All Bar One with probably 50% of the seats available. More expensive than Wetherspoons but well worth it for the peace

 

[A330]

However lots of passengers just assume this is the only area of the terminal with seats. You can walk upto the departure gates at any time and I have found there are always lots of empty seats all along the international pier.

Apologies for going off track on the Saudia thread and thank you for moving the posts.

Absolutely agree with you and Rollo, the international pier is quite a contrast, with the ample room, natural light plus the apron and runaway views! This is the standard all future upgrades at the airport need to meet. I would even argue if the pier were packed, it wouldn't appear so due to the space.

The departure lounge and the arrivals area can feel very congested at peak times.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there all, with the current situation involving Birmingham city council, as it's been reported, that they may have to sell off 18.8% of there share in the airport. So how much would that be worth.

Hi there all again, I have just checked this, but this figure is for 2022, net worth £31,000,000. That can't be correct, because if it is, that's cheap for an airport or it's size and business demand and development.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there all, does anyone know how much Birmingham airport is actually worth, because I have seen some figures suggesting £31,000,000. If this is true, then that's easy pickings for 18.8% share that Birmingham city council holds, and might need to sell, to clawl back any money to resettle debts.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there all, do any posts get replied to or are they ignored.

 

[CL44]

Hi there all, does anyone know how much Birmingham airport is actually worth, because I have seen some figures suggesting £31,000,000. If this is true, then that's easy pickings for 18.8% share that Birmingham city council holds, and might need to sell, to clawl back any money to resettle debts.

I make that just under 6 million (£5,828,000.00) so would not even take the edge of what the Council owe. I do think that this should be in the Random thread though!

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there all, this maybe my last post, I don't know.

 

[IanFarquharson]

The value of BHX is a lot more than £31m, it is hundreds of millions, assets are over £500m and I believe the 7 West Midlands Authorities own 49% which suggests 7% each.

 

[Matt995]

Hi there all, do any posts get replied to or are they ignored.

which post are we talking about Andrew? Your thread in the "General Thread" section? - I don't think anyone is ignoring you, more likely nobody on here has any idea how much the airport would be valued at, I personally wouldn't have a clue what the value of the airport is, how would you even start to value it?

Ian did reply back to you in that thread, with a reply. - as to if Birmingham Council will have to sell their share in the airport, guess thats now in the hands of our government to sort out?

 

[rollo]

The seven councils who own 49% of BHX do not have an equal split.
Birmingham for example is the largest stakeholder with 18.5% while Coventry has 5.79% and Walsall just under 5%. The others are Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Dudley and Solihull making up the 49%.

The remaining shareholders are the Ontario Teachers pension Plan 48.25% and an employee trust fund 2.75% making the Ontario Teachers Plan the biggest single shareholder and if they were to purchase Birminghams shares they would have full control.

I believe the councils generally act as a group but are free to sell their shares or not as they wish although Birmingham Council will now have to do as instructed by a government appointed commissioner any day now.

As to what the airport is worth I've no idea as although as Ian points out the airport is asset rich it also carries significant debt not aided by covid and the lack of government support to airports in that period.
So I presume the only true way to find the value to Birmingham City Council is to put the shares on the market and find out what someone is prepared to pay- twas always the same.

 

[Timberwolf]

Ian did reply back to you in that thread, with a reply. - as to if Birmingham Council will have to sell their share in the airport, guess thats now in the hands of our government to sort out?

The Council voted last night to sell off assets, although it didn't specify if that included its airport shares.

There is talk of them possibly selling the Birmingham Council House to a hotel chain though..

 

[Aviador]

Current owner of London City Airport Global Infrastructure Partners bought the airport for an estimated £750m in 2006 from Irish financier Dermot Desmond, who in turn had paid just £23.5m for it in 1995, when he bought it from Mowlem.

In 2007 Bridgepoint Capital bought Leeds Bradford Airport for £145m and in 2017 the airport was sold for an undisclosed sum to Australian based AMP Capital.

I once had a chat with a city of London banker who had participated with the valuation of LBA prior to its 2007 sale. He said it's difficult to put a value to an airport because you can't just value an airport on it's assets alone. You can have a long runway and all the physical assets you like but it doesn't add value, he said the value comes from the business you already retain, the more airlines an airport has,, the risk to investors is reduced and therefore the value goes up which is why London City airport sold for such a high value.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

I tell you what bhx are playing a risky game today with its take offs While watching AA on YouTube .

 

[HPsauce]

I tell you what bhx are playing a risky game today with its take offs While watching AA on YouTube .

It's a lot riskier at Gatwick, believe me!.

 

[David Cartwright]

I tell you what bhx are playing a risky game today with its take offs While watching AA on YouTube .

In what way ?

 

[Coathanger16]

Presumably this:

Whilst rare at Birmingham, separation like this routinely happens at Gatwick.

Looking down the runway, aircraft look closer than they actually are, but there likely wouldn't have been anything less than a mile between the two.