Five ways to make better use of airport capacity

Birmingham Airport has told the Airports Commission, in its submission to its inquiry, that there are five ways to make the best use of spare capacity and encourage growth across the country.

The submission, drafted in response to the Airports Commission’s call for evidence on how to make best use of capacity in the short-medium term, shows that the Airport could handle 27 million passengers by 2021 with only minor developments to existing infrastructure.

As a result, the Midlands’ region would directly support the creation of 20,000 jobs, with the potential to create nearly ten times this in the wider economy. The submission also shows that by fully utilising existing infrastructure, the Airport would improve passenger choice and increase competition between airports.

The “five ways” to make best use of spare aviation capacity outlined in the submission are:-
1. Launch a ‘Great British Airports” marketing campaign at the 2013 World Routes convention
2. Trial fifth freedom rights for non-EU carriers seeking to offer long-haul services from airports outside the South East
3. Implement a differential tax regime at airports with spare capacity
4. Implement a congestion charge at over-capacity airports
5. Promote consumer choice through surface access improvements

By fulfilling its growth potential, the Airport would be closely aligned with local economic growth and regional development strategies including the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP. The submission was endorsed by representatives of business in the Midlands including the GBS LEP, Black Country LEP, the Coventry and Warwickshire LEP Business Transport Group and the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group.

Paul Kehoe, Chief Executive of Birmingham Airport, said:

“Birmingham Airport has been long been banging the drum for making better use of existing aviation capacity and we thank the Airports Commission for putting this centre stage in the short-medium term.

“The Airport and our business partners have outlined five practical ways that we can make the most of existing resources – including better marketing, fiscal measures and surface access improvements.

“The results of this would be game-changing for the Midlands. Not only would we see more choice for passengers, but we’d directly create jobs and build better aviation links for our businesses to trade abroad.

“I believe this is the first important step to getting the great airports that this country’s great cities need.”