Park and Go: Birmingham Airport Parking - Airport History

Please find below a brief history of Birmingham Airport which we hope that you will find useful. If you wish to make a booking then please click on the appropriate link on your left. Alternatively you can call our office, where one of our helpful staff will only be happy to help.

Birmingham Airport opened on 8 July 1939, the first scheduled flight was from liverpool by Dragon Rapide. The Air Ministry took over the site during World War Two and built two hard runways. There were to be no civil flights taking off from Birmingham Airport until July 1946. The City of Birmingham took over responsibility again in 1960.

In April 1971 Birmingham International Airport began departures to New York began but lack of support resulted in the withdrawal of this service in October 1972.

Number of Terminals: 2
Number of passengers: Over 7 Million
Number of runways: 1
Number of airlines: Over 40

As international flights became available, the terminal and the runway were expanded to accommodate these growing needs. However it soon became evident that a long term solution was required. By 1980, approval had been given (after an extensive public enquiry in 1979), to construct a new terminal close to the National Exhibition Centre, which itself had only recently opened and who’s close proximity had helped promote the airport. This terminal with a capacity of 3 Million passengers was opened in May 1984, by Her Majesty, The Queen.

From 1986 an expanded cargo facility could now operate near the old terminal site at Elmdon and on 1st April 1987 following new legislation the airports ownership transferred to Birmingham International Airport plc.

July 1991 saw the opening of Birmingham International Airports second terminal – the Eurohub. It was the first terminal in the world to combine domestic and international passengers.