Airbus A380 drops in to celebrate Birmingham Airport's 70th birthday

Sep 10 2009 By Ed Stephens

The jumbosized 70th birthday present dropped in as the airport marked its milestone by opening a new £50 million international pier geared to smoothing the way for departing and arriving passengers.

The pier is the single biggest investment that the airport has made in over 20 years. It provides a state-of-the-art extension to the terminal, replacing the former out-dated facility built in 1984 when the current passenger site was opened after moving from Elmdon.

The three storey construction is 240 metres long and 24 metres wide. It provides parking for seven wide-bodied aircraft or 13 smaller aircraft at any given time. Departing passengers are accommodated on the top level and arriving passengers on the middle level. Airlines and handling agents are housed on the ground floor. 

Paul Kehoe, the airport’s chief executive officer, said, "Our new International Pier provides a high quality gateway into the Midlands and is key as we prepare to double our passenger numbers to 18 million in the next 10 years and meet our aspirations to improve global connectivity from the Midlands.

"As demonstrated today, the Pier is capable of accommodating the largest of today’s ‘next generation’ environmentally-efficient aircraft, such as the Airbus A380, Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 ‘Dreamliner'. 

"Together with the future runway extension, we’ll have the infrastructure and facilities to attract new airlines and increase our regional market by offering new direct long haul destinations to all corners of the globe, providing a truly International airport for the region."

Some 500 guests from the travel trade, business community, staff and airport partners were at the anniversary celebrations.