Birmingham Airport Departures (BHX)

Flight Departures at Birmingham Airport

The main airline companies in operation from Birmingham include the ‘low-cost giant’ Ryanair, Monarch Airlines, Bmibaby, Flybe, Thomson Airways and BMI. The airport is actually a base for these airline companies that make up for the majority of destinations served from Birmingham. Ryanair is known to transport the greatest number of passengers at the airport, while Flybe is recorded to operate the majority of flights at the airport. Domestic destinations within the UK are served by various airline companies, and there are also many long-haul flights to destinations in Europe, the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, Caribbean and North America.

Some destinations offered by Ryanair include Alicante, Dublin, Girona, Gran Canaria, Malaga and Tenerife-South, while Flybe offers flights to Belfast-City, Edinburgh, Frankfurt, Milan-Malpensa, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Hamburg and Jersey, just to name a few. Alternative airline companies at the airport include Aer Lingus, Air France, Air Malta, Easyjet, Emirates, Lufthansa, KLM, and Travel Service.

Passengers with departure flights from Birmingham can get to the airport in numerous ways, which even include by bicycle! There is a cycle path leading to the airport which runs over the M45, all the way from Solihull. More popular ways to reach the airport however, include by car, bus, train and taxi. Passengers with their own vehicles will find major motorways such as the M6, the new M6 toll road and the M42 nearby, with the M45 leading directly to Birmingham Airport. There are plenty of parking spaces at the airport, all within walking distance of the terminal, and for short and long term parking periods. Taxis are available from all areas of the city, or they can be called to come and fetch you from your location.

Bus companies, which offer transport to Birmingham Airport, include National Express and Megabus, as well as local buses travelling from central Birmingham. Trains arrive at the Birmingham International Station from Birmingham New Street Station every ten minutes. The Birmingham International Train Station is very close to the airport, and is connected to the terminal building by the AirRail Link.

The airport now consists of one larger terminal building, whereas it used to have two terminals. This merge of the terminals only happened very recently, in 2010, and is hoped to have a positive impact on the flow of passengers throughout the airport, and increase the efficiency of the airport operations. There is now one large and combined area for checking-in and security screening processes, and one large meet and greet area for arriving passengers. Passengers departing from Birmingham should arrive in good time for their flight. Although all airline companies have different check-in requirements, it is generally at least 90 minutes before your departure, and possibly longer for international, long haul flights.

The security processes at the airport may be tedious, but they are in place for the safety of all passengers and staff members on the aircraft. Birmingham Airport has all the necessary facilities in place to ensure that the screening procedures go smoothly. Passengers should be aware of the new liquid laws that affect all airports in the European Union. Only small quantities of liquids may be packed in hand luggage, 100 ml in each container, and a total of no more than one liter. These items should also be placed in a re-sealable and transparent plastic bag, and handed separately to the security officer for inspection. At some airports these plastic bags can be purchased from vending machines. The liquid restrictions do not apply to hold luggage, or to baby food or dietary food that will be needed during the flight.

Facilities at the airport include quite a number of interesting retail outlets and duty-free shops, as well as restaurants, bars and cafés. There are good business services at the airport, which include meeting and conference rooms, and other services such as photocopying, fax and catering. Their ATM's and currency exchange facilities, a prayer room, clothes washing facility and many other useful amenities that make your time at the airport as pleasant as possible.

Disabled passengers are welcomed at Birmingham by OCS-Ltd, the company contracted by the airport to provide assistance for reduced mobility passengers. Their help and assistance can be arranged through your airline company, at least 48 hours in advance of your departure flight. The airport is fully accessible by passengers in wheelchairs, as it has lifts and ramps, and there are disabled parking areas dedicated to Blue Badge holders. There are also numerous help points from where assistance can be requested at the parking areas, and entrances to the terminal buildings.

Passengers will now hopefully enjoy the new combined terminal, and set off for a smooth departure flight.