City News

Birmingham International Airport (BIA) today joined a very select band of airports, when it officially closed its oldest runway. Only a handful of International Airports around the World have ever shut unwanted runways.

Although the ‘Cross-Runway’ – officially designated ‘06/24’ because of its compass headings (060 degrees and 240 degrees) –  is also referred to as the ‘short’ runway, this can be misleading, as it is the same length as London City Airport, and is capable of handling aircraft used by a variety of European airlines. However, it cannot be used efficiently at the same time as the main runway (15/33), and the Airport Company has opted to concentrate movements on that main runway.

The line of runway 06/24 was opened, together with the original airport buildings, on 8th July 1939, by HRH the Duchess of Kent.  It was closed by a local Councillor, Alan Martin.

Councillor Alan Martin said:-

"As a boy in Marston Green, I used to walk across the fields before the Airport was here. When it opened in 1939, there was only a grass strip and the paved runways didn’t come until during the war. The closure of the runway is the just the latest of many changes I’ve witnessed here over the years and I’m delighted to play my part in ending this chapter of the Airport’s history"

BIA’s Head of Corporate Affairs, John Morris, said:-

“It may seem peculiar that, at a time of airport expansion, BIA is closing a runway.  Although 06/24 was of great use in the past it was also a cause of annoyance to local residents, and in recent years it was only used in exceptional circumstances.

“We recognise that local communities really value certainty when it comes to airport development; that’s why we are making such a positive statement. We have officially closed the runway, and after 31st December it will not be possible to bring it back into use.

BIA’s Community Relations Officer, Sandra Wood, said:-

“Our philosophy is to work with local communities on airport development, and we hope that the closure of runway 06/24 will reassure local residents that we will only continue to operate infrastructure that is really needed – and that they will no longer be troubled by arrivals and departures on those bearings.

“Our primary focus now is to concentrate of the extension of the main runway, and we expect to make an announcement about a Planning Application soon”.