Birmingham Airport sets out growth strategy with investment and new routes

Birmingham Airport (BHX) is the seventh largest airport in the UK and one of the fastest growing airports.

In 2025, it handled 13.6 million passengers with a projected 14.6 million expected this year.  The airport partners with 25 airlines operating non-stop routes to 145 destinations, with further one-stop connectivity to over 650 destinations worldwide.

During 2025, the airport embarked on its most ambitious capital programme ever, with £300 million being spent over the forthcoming four-year period.

Major projects will benefit both passengers and airlines alike across the terminal and on the airfield.  Projects include: an increase in the number of retail and hospitality units and a multi-million-pound refurbishment from World Duty Free.

Baggage capacity improvements will include enhancements to self-service drop-off, baggage sortation systems, and greater handling capabilities. Furthermore, e-Gates will be unveiled during summer 2026 and, across the airfield, there will be investment in taxiways, new stands, lighting replacement and runway works.

Whilst the capital investment plan sets out development at BHX over the next four years, the airport is also planning for longer-term growth.

By the end of 2026, the Master Plan will be published, outlining an ambitious vision for sustainable growth, enhanced transport links, and transformation through to 2041.

Over the next decade, the arrival of High Speed 2 (HS2) will be a key milestone, with Birmingham Airport becoming the only UK airport with a direct HS2 connection. The new high-speed rail line will connect London to Birmingham Airport in under 45 minutes, making it more accessible than many London airports.

With many London airports at capacity, BHX remains ready to accommodate an increased catchment and is looking to bolster its route network with key unserved routes.

Priority areas of focus for route development include direct links to high-interest unserved European destinations, including Hamburg, Helsinki, Oslo, Riga, Stuttgart and Vienna. Further afield, plans include transatlantic connectivity to New York and Toronto as a top priority, as well as direct access to key intercontinental markets to cater for VFR demand such as Hong Kong, Mumbai and Singapore.