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Passengers travelling from Birmingham International Airport (BIA) now have even greater choice following the opening of a series of retail and catering outlets; and there’s still much more to come as the Airport’s £30 million investment programme to improve retail, catering and terminal facilities continues.

New shops that have recently opened include the high street fashion label ‘Accessorize’ and leading betting name ‘Ladbrokes’, for those wanting to place a bet on their favourite sporting event before they fly away. Other well known brands benefiting from new or larger locations are ‘Boots’, ‘Dixons’, ‘WHSmiths’, ‘World News’, ‘Claire’s Accessories’, ‘Starbucks’, ‘Tie Rack’, ‘Spar’ and ‘Millies Cookies’, whilst Alpha Retail boasts the flagship of the Airport’s development programme with its brand new Tax and Duty Free store in the Terminal One departure lounge, and a refurbished and extended outlet in Terminal Two.

Meanwhile, a number of new catering offers will be opened over the next few months with the main improvement appearing landside in Terminal One. A major refit is underway to the main ‘Food Court’ seating area, with new brand names including ‘Frankie and Benny’s, the leading New York Italian restaurant and bar, ‘Pash! Deli’, an all day delicatessen and fresh food establishment, and ‘EstPresso’ which will offer a wide range of hot and cold beverages and pastries. The Food Court will be fully completed by June and all offers will be managed by TRG Concessions (a division of the restaurant group), one of the largest independent restaurant groups in the country and a new concessionaire at Birmingham International Airport.

Furthermore, a ‘Yates’ Bar’ will open in the Terminal One departure lounge in June, providing an excellent range of food and drinks at great value. Yates’ will be managed by SSPAir, a longstanding partner of the Airport and management concessionaire for BIA’s existing ‘Gallery Bar’, ‘Viva Coffee’ and ‘Millies Cookies’. The new bar is believed to be the largest in any UK airport.

Richard Heard, the Airport’s Managing Director, said, “There are now an incredible 46 retail and catering outlets throughout the two terminals and an additional 1500-sq.m of space has been created to house these new commercial openings. Our investments are designed to improve passengers’ journeys through the Airport and make it an enjoyable and relaxed experience.”

Meanwhile, a number of developments are taking place to the terminal buildings. In Terminal One, an extension to the Immigration Hall is under way to help cope with the increasing mix of airlines operating from BIA, whilst a new gate lounge is being built on the International Pier to handle more wide-bodied aircraft. This new lounge will also connect the Short Pier and International Pier for the first time, creating clearer passengers access and improved passenger flows.

In Terminal Two, 14 additional check-in desks are being built as well as customer service and ticketing accommodation and an improved security access area. Furthermore, six new aircraft stands are being created to handle the increased number of scheduled European carriers which are now operating from Terminal Two and various visual and environmental improvements will be made to the 1991-built terminal, bringing it more in line with more modern structures seen on site.

A rapid-exit taxiway is being constructed off the main runway to improve operational efficiency and to maintain BIA’s position at the top of the CAA’s airport punctuality statistics.

Work has also taken place to redevelop toilets and baby changing units. Richard Heard concludes, “This work is essential for maintaining operational efficiency of the airfield and terminal buildings and making BIA as comfortable as possible for our passengers.

“During the next few years, the Airport plans to make even more improvements, and increase the number of catering units, retail choice and terminal facilities to make Birmingham the first choice for even more travellers.“