Birmingham International Airport today hosted Liam Byrne MP (Minister for the West Midlands) and members of the Advantage West Midlands team, as well as business representatives, for the launch of AWM’s India Co-ordination Group. The clear message from the Airport was “don’t let most of India stay out of reach!”
Recognising the challenges and opportunities that India presents, AWM’s document predicts that India will become the fifth largest economy in the World, within 10 years.
However, AWM’s launch document says that, for some businesses, India falls in to the “too difficult” category. The Airport wants to make sure that it’s not the getting there that will be “too difficult”.
Although there are highly successful routes from Birmingham to Amritsar and Delhi, Birmingham is at a disadvantage to other Airports, in that the runway is too short to permit viable direct flights to most Indian destinations.
There is an added complication in that the Indian Government has not granted rights for competitors (for example, Jet Airways) to operate alongside the State Airline (Air India) through Birmingham.
A 400-metre extension to the southern end of the runway would make the whole of India accessible by direct flights, and place the region on a ‘level playing field’ with other UK regions seeking lucrative partnerships with India.
Business leaders have long supported an extension to the runway, and research in 2004 indicated that Birmingham is only connected with 3 of the ‘top twenty’ fastest growing ‘Global Cities’ – primarily because of runway length.
There are over half a million people (553,000) with Indian interests within a one-hour drive of Birmingham International Airport; yet only 46% use Birmingham – primarily because the short runway does not support the full range of destinations, and there is little choice for direct flights. The Airport is unable to serve the existing market, and needs to gear up for future challenges as interest in India grows.
A successful determination of the planning application (currently with Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council), and subsequent Board Approval to proceed, means that it could be possible to complete the work by 2012, bringing the benefits of Global Connectivity to the Midlands in the same year as the UK hosts the Olympic Games.
Birmingham International Airport’s Head of Corporate Affairs, John Morris, said, “Advantage West Midlands and the Minister have hit the right note by announcing this consultation, and the Airport welcomes new and strengthened links. In particular the Minister’s statement that the Airport is ‘mission critical’ was most welcome, as was his undertaking to study the options for encouraging more Indian airlines through Bilateral arrangements.
“Enhanced Connectivity with India is absolutely essential if Advantage West Midlands is to deliver the challenge of successful engagement and enhanced regional prosperity. Less than half of the current Midlands market for India uses Birmingham Airport, as the routes can not yet be provided. Unless greater connectivity is provided, the region will be at a major disadvantage”.
John Morris continued, “Adding around 400 metres to our runway will dramatically increase the capability of Birmingham International Airport and the economic fortunes of the region - by providing the opportunity for direct flights to the whole of India as well as other long-haul destinations”.
The Airport Company continues to progress an extremely challenging investment case for the extension. However, further uncertainty remains as the Government’s controversial ‘Aviation Duty’ proposals could see the region bypassed altogether, and would put further stress on plans.
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