Birmingham: General Airport Discussion & Updates

[Elmdon80slad]

I think the old old pre 90s baggage reclaim had 3 (i think) i should remember i was down there enough when they got stuck.

E.

 

[Brum X]

I think the old old pre 90s baggage reclaim had 3 (i think) i should remember i was down there enough when they got stuck.

E.

When i arrived back into BHX last summer, i remember seeing 5 or possibly 6 (Thats in the building that used to be T1) and then you have a couple in the old Eurohub part of the airport (T2)

 

[Ray Finkle]

There is work underway to double the airports baggage capacity so I assume this means inbound aswell as outbound?

The new Emirates morning flight has been pushed back 40 mins to a 07:50 arrival and 09:50 departure in some part due to the lack of stands at that time of the day.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there ray, you know you have mentioned several times in your post, that your hobby was your job. Do you work for the airport at all, if yes, then do you remember a magazine that the airport used to have running called cloud nine, where you could win flights and discounts every quarter. Any idea what happened to the magazine at all, andyc

 

[CL44]

Hi Andy.

I think you may have seen my "footer" which states "I'm lucky my job is my hobby". Yes I do work at the Airport for an independant freight forwarding firm. I do not recall seeing this magazine over my time in the industry (currently 31 years and counting) but that does not mean to say it did not exist. I am based on the Elmdon site (in my fourth office in Forward House since starting work) and so do not have many reasons to go over to the main terminal.

I am sorry not to be able to offer any further information on this for you.

 

[Brum X]

Hi there ray, you know you have mentioned several times in your post, that your hobby was your job. Do you work for the airport at all, if yes, then do you remember a magazine that the airport used to have running called cloud nine, where you could win flights and discounts every quarter. Any idea what happened to the magazine at all, andyc

And does anybody remember the Airport timetable for that month that used to have every flight in and out of BHX, i used to look forward to getting my copy for 50p in the old viewing lounge on the top floor. Used to browse through it for hours seeing what aircraft and airlines were due in. Thats going back a few years.


And that "annoying" pre recorded message that used to keep saying" Anybody who leaves there vehicle outside the terminal building is commiting an offense, please remove imediately, LOL"

 

[Ray Finkle]

....do you remember a magazine that the airport used to have running called cloud nine, where you could win flights and discounts every quarter. Any idea what happened to the magazine at all, andyc

Hi mate, I remember Cloud 9 well. The airport used to have something called the 'BHX Flight Club' which, when signed up to, entitled the holder of the card to various discounts at some of the airports outlets. Cloud 9 was a magazine which was sent out to members with news of happenings at the airport, articles about destinations, vouchers for discounts at the shops and competitions. I used to look forward to getting a copy through the door four times per year, in fact I still have my BHX Flight Club card 😀

It's all done electronically now and you can sign up for the airport newsletter by entering your email address on the BHX website.

And does anybody remember the Airport timetable for that month that used to have every flight in and out of BHX, i used to look forward to getting my copy for 50p in the old viewing lounge on the top floor. Used to browse through it for hours seeing what aircraft and airlines were due in. Thats going back a few years.

I used to grab those from time to time but it became very frustrating when you'd make time to visit as the timetable listed a very interesting movement, which was then cancelled and there was no way of finding out 🙄 How different it is now when you can sit on a bench in the viewing area and get all the info on your phone 🙂

 

[BHXsupporter]

I've just found on Bing Maps front page a section 'Explore Venue Maps' with 'Airports' giving this URL for BHX:
http://www.bing.com/maps/?FORM=HDRSC4#Y ... Emc3R5PXI=

Using the magnifier over the terminal it shows all the shops (at that date) in both main buildings (upstairs only it appears) and at maximum magnification you might even see the people! However whilst it shows the A45 diversion around the runway it doesn't show the runway extension. Strange to do that.

 

[Ray Finkle]

It's not working for me. I can see the individual units but only on 'road' view and not 'aerial' view :s_sorry

 

[BHXsupporter]

Your post Ray made me go to the other aerial view which I hadn't before. No, no shop names shown aerially but somehow I would have been surprized to see them.What's fascinating in doing that is:

• The runway extension is not shown with old route of A45 shown still
  A large Boeing is there on the international stands near the railway with a reddish tail
  Magnifying to try to identify the plane switches the field and then it has gone and had been replaced at one magnification by an interesting scene of the building of the new international finger, the tarmacking of the northerly stand areas (where that lovely circular transit lounge fed by underground escalators was planned at one stage), a Pakistan 777 is parked on the far railway island stands nearest the fire station and an Air Europa nearest the railway end.

So thanks!

You're far more knowledgeable about BHX than me so any guesses at the dates these photos cover? Clearly they're years behind the road view with the A45 diversion and they state that there are 49 businesses in the main terminal. Over to you!

 

[Ray Finkle]

The large plane with the red tail I'd say is an Air India 777 so it has to be pre 2008 which was when they stopped BHX flights. Looking across to T2 it shows some 146's so it was before Flybe ordered then Embraers. Wikipedia says the first Embraers were delivered September 2006 so I'd say the photo is either late 2005 or early 2006?

When you zoom in there's that Helvetic aircraft that was in the pink livery, the PIA 777 and an Air Europa 767 on remote stands and a Spanair MD8? and Onur Air Airbus all on the pier.

I took this photo on 25/08/2008 which shows the red and white barriers also seen on the aerial view although on the picture the air bridges have been removed but on the map they're still in place so I say early 2008 perhaps?

 

[Ray Finkle]

I took a walk up to BHX along the path by the railway line this afternoon. Stand 61 has now disappeared and been renumbered stand 60 (far left on the picture), it still looks the same size (737?). Stand 59 now looks big enough to accommodate a wide body and it'll definitely be needed over the summer months, it's hard to tell whether it'll take a 777 or just 787 size, especially if there is another wide body on 58 where Air India usually go.

Apologies for the picture it was on my phone and it's difficult to make out through the fence.

A few observations. The old Emirates ticket desk has been spruced up and looks ready for a new occupier as has Turkish Airlines old desk, I imagine American Airlines will be taking one but we'll see?

T1 was absolutely heaving this afternoon, as we walked through the Turkmenistan pax were checking in with one gentleman cracking a joke to his wife that 'Air India are always delayed'. 🙄

On the way back the PIA flight was checking in with the queue snaking back almost to the Emirates check in area. I realise that a full 77W holds alot of pax and people on flights to this region generally arrive at the airport with many relatives in tow but it was very difficult to get through the crowds and with the check in desks for Lufthansa, Swiss, SAS and Turkish all but blocked off it couldn't have been great for pax on those flights. If BHX is to grow over the coming years I really hope they have plans to extend the check in area.

Flybe have closed their ticket desk in T2 with KLM/Air France now having their own. Flybe staff are manning the self service check in machines so I imagine it's a cost cutting measure.

Lots of people in the viewing area despite the cold wind, many were sat in cars spotting, it must cost a fortune :shok:

I see UK Central has been promoted heavily at MIPIM, Resorts World are expecting 2+ million visitors per year, hopefully some of the international clientele will be using BHX as their entry point :s_yes

 

[Aviador]

The Flybe "cost cutting measures" was previously tried by BMI mainline and they lost customers in their droves. I hope this doesn't happen to Flybe.

 

[BHXsupporter]

'I took a walk up to BHX along the railway line this afternoon.' - that's brave (and illegal?) !!

 

[Ray Finkle]

'I took a walk up to BHX along the railway line this afternoon.' - that's brave (and illegal?) !!

:shok:

Doh!!! That should read path by the railway line :s_yes

 

[Aviador]

'I took a walk up to BHX along the railway line this afternoon.' - that's brave (and illegal?) !!

:shok:

Doh!!! That should read path by the railway line :s_yes

Lol! 😆 Made me think of this....

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRVaGV47C8I[/video]

 

[Ray Finkle]

London - Birmingham Airport anyone?

London Birmingham Airport?

Mr Kehoe's response:

1st need the connectivity that HS2 brings. Future travel times less than LTN & STN same as LGW and 10 mins > LHR T5

 

[Ray Finkle]

BHX's Fire & Rescue Service is now A380 certified 🙂

From the recent consultative committee meeting:

The Committee also noted that the Airport Fire Service was now also certified for the A380.

 

[Aviador]

BHX's Fire & Rescue Service is now A380 certified 🙂

From the recent consultative committee meeting:

The Committee also noted that the Airport Fire Service was now also certified for the A380.

There isn't a huge difference between the fire category 9 and category 10 used for the A380. I think the main difference is availability of equipment to reach the highest points of the aircraft.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Previously BHX was only certified to handle an A380 on a diversion, good to see it's now certified for scheduled ops. I think the only thing left is the high level catering trucks but I'd imagine they won't be purchased until an A380 is confirmed. I believe there may also need to be an investment in an extended reach deicing rig.