Birmingham offers solution to the 'Heathrow Problem'

Scrapping proposals for Heathrow's Runway 3, together with a desire to utilise underused assets, will mean a more equitable solution for the Country as a whole, and more jobs and prosperity in the regions.

Birmingham Airport is a Strategic National Asset which, with some new thinking, can easily form part of the solution to the 'Heathrow Problem'. There is spare capacity at Birmingham - enough capacity to take another 9 million passengers immediately - and anticipates another 21 million passengers in future years, as it improves its capability with a modest runway extension, for which Planning Consent has already been given.

Furthermore, Euston is only 70 minutes from Birmingham Airport and Virgin Trains has expressed a desire to reduce this to 59 minutes. With HS2 in place this becomes 38 minutes. Even now the majority of Londoners could probably get to Birmingham as quickly as they could reach Heathrow's check-in desks. It just needs people to think about their journey in a new way, and not to be bound by old habits.

Helping to solve the 'Heathrow Problem' by adding to Birmingham's wider portfolio will help to create jobs and generate inward investment, on top of the 21,000 regional jobs that are expected to be created up to 2030 by expansion that is already planned and which already has permission.

Around 50% of the UK population is less than a two-hour drive from Birmingham. High Speed Rail will be the equivalent of placing Birmingham in 'Zone 4' of the Underground Map.

Birmingham Airport has an excellent environmental record and one of the most stringent night flying regimes - there are binding agreements in place to protect the interests of local people. However, within those binding agreements there is still tremendous opportunity. The Airport is running at less than 40% capacity. Making best use of the UK's strategic resources can only be in everyone's interests.

Paul Kehoe, Birmingham Airport's Chief Executive Officer, said: "We welcome the Government's new thinking, which seems to take a more pragmatic and equitable view. In these difficult times it makes sense to use and sensibly improve the assets that you have got, rather than building whole new runways. Aviation has its part to play in an integrated transport system, and rail must play a part in distributing the demand for International Gateways, to Airports that have capacity. Birmingham is a prime example as it is just over an hour from London.

"Birmingham Airport is a vital yet underused piece of National strategic infrastructure. It is already the Midlands' premier international gateway. In addition to this important role, the prospect of HS2 from Central London to BIA will make journey times comparable with Gatwick and Heathrow, and shorter than Stansted and Luton.

Paul continued, "We have plenty of capacity and, linked to high-speed rail, we are uniquely positioned to attract passengers from the overheated South East. I hope that the Government's new thinking will encourage others to take a fresh look at their travel habits - and see that there are some easier alternatives to the 'received wisdom'.

"We will not just be another Airport for London as we have our own traffic but by providing a solution to the 'Heathrow Problem' we will create jobs, help to rebuild the local economy, and encourage a new way of looking at problems.

"Birmingham is famous for Chocolate, Cars, Canals, Culture - and lots more. Positioned at the heart of the country we are perfectly placed for those visitors from abroad who want to experience all that the region, and further afield, has to offer. Birmingham's reputation continues to rise and is truly a destination which provides the perfect port of entry foreign visitors as well as UK Nationals travelling overseas."