Providing choice for passengers

New research shows that Birmingham Airport is Britain’s most accessible airport and should be used to alleviate pressure on the overheated South East.

The analysis, conducted by transport consultants Steer Davies Gleave, looks at the catchments areas of the UK’s long-haul airports. It concludes that Birmingham Airport currently serves the greatest number of passengers within two hours travel by road or rail.

By 2032, with targeted investment in rail service improvements and High-Speed Two, Birmingham will be the most accessible airport for any journey time. In total, 45 million people will live within two hours journey time of Birmingham Airport, and it will be the most convenient long-haul gateway for 19 million people in the UK.

These findings add weight to the argument that the existing structure of the UK’s aviation industry is not serving the needs of its passengers.

Additional surface access connectivity to Birmingham Airport will bring 45 million air passengers currently using London airports within under an hour’s journey time of Birmingham. This will drive competition and choice across the UK air-rail network, bringing costs down for passengers and help make best use of existing airport capacity.

The report by Steer Davies Gleave can be downloaded here.