57-666: Bp pulse LIVE is a multipurpose indoor arena located at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Solihull , England. It has a capacity of 15,685 seats. The venue was built as the seventh hall of the NEC complex. After 18 months of construction, the arena opened as the "Birmingham International Arena" in December 1980 with a concert by Queen . In 2019, bp pulse LIVE had the 5th highest ticket sales of an arena venue in
114-698: A CAA Public Use Aerodrome Licence (Number P451) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction. Passenger throughput in 2017 was over 12.9 million, making Birmingham the seventh busiest airport in the UK . The airport offers international flights to destinations in Europe , the Middle East , and the Indian subcontinent . Birmingham Airport is an operating base for easyJet , Jet2.com , Ryanair and TUI Airways . Birmingham Airport
171-436: A taxiway for aircraft accessing runway 15/33. In 1928, Birmingham City Council decided that the city required a municipal airport; thus soon thereafter a committee was established to work towards establishing such a facility. By 1931, several locations, including Shirley , Elmdon and Aldridge , were reportedly under consideration as potential sites. While Elmdon was considered to be an impressive and appropriate site for
228-786: A civilian airport would soon be interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War . During the Second World War, Elmdon Airport was requisitioned by the Air Ministry and was used by both the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy as RAF Elmdon . It was largely operated as an Elementary Flying School and a base for the Fleet Air Arm . It was during this era that the original grass airstrip
285-496: A master plan for its development up to 2030, called "Towards 2030: Planning a Sustainable Future for Air Transport in the Midlands". This set out details of changes to the terminals, airfield layout and off-site infrastructure. As with all large scale plans, the proposals were controversial, with opposition from environmentalists and local residents. In particular, the requirement for a second parallel runway based on projected demand
342-587: A network of NHS Nightingale Hospitals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic . On 1 April 2021 the hospital was closed without ever treating a patient. Birmingham Airport Birmingham Airport ( IATA : BHX , ICAO : EGBB ), formerly Birmingham International Airport , is an international airport located 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi) east-southeast of Birmingham city centre, 9.5 nautical miles (17.6 km; 10.9 mi) west-northwest of Coventry slightly north of Bickenhill village, in
399-532: A record total for the airport, making it the seventh busiest UK airport . On 28 September 2016, £100 million of investment was allocated to a new baggage handling system and two new car parks, including a drop-off car park. British regional airline Flybe operated an extensive route network from Birmingham to destinations within the United Kingdom and mainland Europe until it entered administration on 4 March 2020, and has since resumed operations using
456-644: A solution to runway capacity problems in London; management figures suggested that it would be quicker to get to London from Birmingham than from Stansted Airport once completed, and claimed that the airport had capacity for nine million more passengers. Plans for the extension of the airport's runway, and the construction of the new air traffic control tower, were submitted to Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council in January 2008, and approved in March 2009. Originally,
513-528: Is 7 NM (13 km; 8.1 mi) east-south-east of Birmingham city centre, in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull . It is bordered by the National Exhibition Centre to the east, Marston Green to the north, Sheldon to the west, the village of Bickenhill to the south, and the village of Elmdon to the south west. It is primarily served by the A45 main road, and is near Junction 6 of
570-612: Is currently planned for completion by 2029. There are plans to implement a new Line 3 of the West Midlands Metro to Birmingham Airport from Edgbaston , this would link Birmingham Interchange , Birmingham International and Birmingham Airport to the City Centre of Birmingham in 30 minutes travelling along the A45. National Express West Midlands operates the main bus routes calling at Birmingham Airport, those being
627-643: The Airbus A340-600 , the Airbus A380 , the Boeing 747-8 , and the Boeing 777X . The new pier also has a new lounge for business class Emirates passengers. In March 2009, the runway extension plans were approved. In September 2010, it was announced that after the merging of Terminals 1 and 2 into a single facility in 2011, the airport would drop the "International" from its official name to become "Birmingham Airport'". A Midlands-based marketing agency
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#1732773235156684-541: The Boeing 777 during the COVID-19 pandemic due to less demand. In January 2023, regional airline Flybe , successor to the aforementioned airline of the same name, which maintained its main base in Birmingham, entered administration and ceased all operations. Birmingham Airport's current terminal complex combines the two old terminals via the Millennium Link in to one large terminal, with gates 1–20 in
741-548: The M42 motorway . It is connected by the elevated Air-Rail Link with Birmingham International railway station on the West Coast Main Line . The airport's location southeast of the city, plus the only operational runway being northwest–southeast (15/33), means that depending on wind direction, aircraft land or take-off directly over Birmingham . The former northeast–southwest runway (06/24) has been incorporated into
798-449: The Metropolitan Borough of Solihull , England . Officially opened as Elmdon Airport on 8 July 1939, the airport was requisitioned by the Air Ministry during the Second World War and used by both the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy as RAF Elmdon . It was largely used for flight training and wartime production purposes. On 8 July 1946, the aerodrome was reopened to civilian operations. Birmingham Airport currently holds
855-483: The National Exhibition Centre . [REDACTED] Media related to Genting Arena at Wikimedia Commons National Exhibition Centre The National Exhibition Centre ( NEC ) is an exhibition centre located in Marston Green , England, near to Birmingham and Solihull . It is near junction 6 of the M42 motorway , and is adjacent to Birmingham Airport and Birmingham International railway station . It
912-471: The 2012 Summer Paralympics began. Work on the new runway eventually began in autumn 2012. The extension to the southern end of the runway originally required the A45 Coventry Road to be diverted into a tunnel under the extended section, but to cut costs, it was diverted south of the runway instead. In Summer 2013 the new air traffic control tower became fully operational; the old carriageway of
969-500: The A45 was closed and the new carriageway was opened. In May 2014, the 400-metre runway extension was officially opened; the full length was first used on 22 July 2014, when China Southern Airlines operated its first charter between Birmingham and Beijing . The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan , a Canadian institutional investor, increased its stake in the airport to 48.25% in early 2015. It also owns 100% of Bristol Airport . Birmingham handled over 11.6 million passengers in 2016,
1026-903: The National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. On 16 February 1973, then Prime Minister Edward Heath travelled up from London to cut a white ribbon and initiate its construction. The NEC was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 2 February 1976. The seventh hall of the NEC complex, a multi-purpose indoor arena named the Birmingham International Arena (currently branded BP Pulse Live), opened in December 1980. On 23 March 1989, Queen Elizabeth II opened three new halls. Four more halls were added in 1993, and another four new halls, designed by Seymour Harris and built by John Laing , were completed in January 1998. A five-year, £40 million venue improvement programme which saw improvements made to everything from
1083-504: The UK outside London Heathrow Airport . The new pier is 240 metres long and 24 metres wide. Departing passengers are accommodated on the top level, with arriving passengers on the middle level and office accommodation for airline and handling agents on the ground floor. The new facility provides air-bridged aircraft parking for seven wide-bodied aircraft and enough space for 13 smaller aircraft. It can accommodate 'next generation' environmentally-efficient wide-bodied aircraft such as
1140-540: The United Kingdom. The Ticket Factory was the official box office for the Resorts World Arena. They would eventually be acquired by American ticket outlet AXS from September 2024 when the arena was rebranded as bp pulse LIVE. The venue was known as Birmingham International Arena until 1 September 1983, then as NEC Arena from 5 September 1983 to 31 August 2008. From 1 September 2008, the NEC Arena
1197-509: The X1 to Birmingham city centre and Coventry , the X12 to Chelmsley Wood and Solihull , and the 96 to Chelmsley Wood, Erdington and Kingstanding. Other smaller operators also call at the airport. Bus stops are situated outside Terminal One. Most buses are operated by National Express West Midlands . National Express Coaches operates various long-distance coaches calling at Birmingham Airport on
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#17327732351561254-412: The aerodrome and, once declared airworthy, they were flown to their operational units. On 8 July 1946, the aerodrome was reopened to civilian operations, though it remained under government control. During the post-war years, a number of public events, such as air fairs and air races, were held on the site. In 1949, scheduled services began with British European Airways (BEA) launching routes to Paris;
1311-485: The airport as its headquarters and main base of operations. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic , a temporary mortuary was established in a hangar at the airport, with space for 12,000 bodies. On 13 January 2023, Emirates announced that they will return to flying the iconic Airbus A380 on their daily flights to Birmingham Airport from 1 July 2023. Previously, Emirates had used the Airbus A380 on their flights to Birmingham since 2016, however they resumed using
1368-447: The airport committee approached British architectural and engineering practice Norman and Dawbarn , inviting their attendance and seeking their participation as expert advisers on the airport's construction, the practice was subsequently appointed as the project's architects. In 1933, Birmingham City Council authorised the compulsory purchase of 300 acres of land for the use by the airport; another 214 acres were similarly acquired during
1425-434: The airport runway and the construction of a new air traffic control tower were submitted to Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council . In June 2008, work began on building the new three-storey International Pier; it was officially opened on 9 September 2009. As part of the airport's 70th anniversary, the airport welcomed the Airbus A380 as the first user of the pier. The special service was the first commercial A380 flight in
1482-493: The airport's air traffic control tower, was designed by Norman and Dawbarn in an Art Deco style; this facility would continue to be used as a terminal until 1984 and subsequently as staff offices and for private flights; it is still intact as of 2023. The airport was owned and operated by Birmingham City Council . Initial services flew to Croydon , Glasgow, Liverpool, Ryde, Shoreham , Manchester , and Southampton ; further services were added soon thereafter, although its use as
1539-403: The airport's new positioning as a global travel hub. In January 2011 the viewing gallery, 'Aviation Experience And Gift Shop ', closed indefinitely. In the same month, the airport merged its two terminals into a single terminal building, which involved the construction of two additional floors. A new lower ground floor accommodates the new Arrivals and Meet & Greet area, while the 3rd floor
1596-578: The airport, further progress was delayed due to spending cutbacks that had been initiated as a consequence of the Great Depression . By 1933, the project was revived and a new airport committee was formed during the following year to oversee the airport's establishment. Prior to any major construction decisions being taken, members of the committee visited various successful airports around Europe in 1935, including Amsterdam , Berlin , Lyon , Paris , Brussels and London . During January 1935,
1653-521: The car parking to signage, seating and catering was carried out between 2006 and 2011. The NEC has 20 interconnected halls covering 190,000 m (2,000,000 sq ft) of floor space. Regular exhibitions in the past have included the British International Motor Show and the international dog show Crufts . The NEC has 16,500 parking spaces spread around the site, with a shuttle bus service operating to and from
1710-630: The car parks. In 2020 the all-day parking fee for public exhibitions was £16.00. Parent company the NEC Group also owns and operates the Arena Birmingham and ICC Birmingham , both in central Birmingham, and the Resorts World Arena , based on The NEC site. Birmingham City Council placed the NEC Group up for sale in 2014. After short-listing three contenders to purchase the company, the sale to Lloyds Development Capital ,
1767-508: The closure has been attributed to the system's unreliability, it having suffered from frequent breakdowns. The original guideway lay dormant but intact for a time, while proposals for its restoration or adaption for other uses were considered. In 2003, a replacement cable-hauled system, the Air-Rail Link Cable Liner people mover, was opened, which reused the track and much of the existing infrastructure. During 1993,
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1824-574: The existing roof, with an addition of an upper tier as well as other works including enhanced hospitality facilities as well as external, internal and major refurbishment works. Though unanimously approved by councillors, the plans were put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom . Parent company The NEC Group also owns and operates Utilita Arena Birmingham (previously the National Indoor Arena and Barclaycard Arena) and ICC Birmingham , both in central Birmingham, and
1881-703: The following year. During 1936, a private bill presented by the Birmingham Corporation was passed through Parliament , which authorised the acquisition of further land as well as the diversion of various roads and footpaths to permit the airport's development. Shortly following the bill's passing, various agencies, including the City Engineer and Surveyor, the Public Works Department and a firm of aeronautical consultants, including Norman and Dawbarn, commenced work on preparing
1938-432: The government limited public sector borrowing came into force and was applied to Birmingham Airport. This change meant that the airport could only expand by using private sector finance. 51% of the local council shares were sold to restructure the airport into a private sector company; this initiative led to the commencement of a £260 million restructuring programme in 1997. During November 2007, Birmingham Airport published
1995-414: The ground, designing both the terminal and hangar buildings, and planning out the airport's detailed layout. By January 1937, Norman and Dawbarn had been authorised to finalise the design drawings; these were apparently completed by June 1937. In October of that year, various contractors were appointed to construct various elements of the airport's buildings, including its elaborate terminal. Reportedly,
2052-454: The hall. The reason for the new name was to more closely align the venue with Genting's Resorts World Birmingham that is opposite the arena, which opened in October 2015. On 11 June 2024, it was announced that the name would change to bp pulse LIVE at the start of September 2024, which eventually went live on 1st September 2024. The arena is currently under renovation until November so all
2109-447: The increase in both passenger numbers and aircraft movements. The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter services to and from Birmingham: Birmingham Airport is served by Birmingham International railway station . The station is on the West Coast Main Line between Birmingham and London , and trains are operated by West Midlands Trains , Avanti West Coast , Transport For Wales , and CrossCountry . Access between
2166-577: The installation were around 1,000 new seats, bringing the capacity to 16,000 to compete with venues such as The O2 Arena in London and the Manchester Arena in Manchester. Also constructed were new hospitality areas and a forum containing new bars, restaurants and other customer facilities. Prior to its first concert, the arena hosted the 2009 Horse of the Year show. In 2011, the venue became
2223-453: The number of flights to the continent steadily grew over the years, including services to Zürich , Düsseldorf , Palma , Amsterdam and Barcelona commencing between 1955 and 1960. During 1960, the City of Birmingham resumed responsibility for the airport's operation again, ending central government control. In 1961, an additional terminal building to handle the growing international traffic
2280-527: The old Terminal 2, and all other gates in the old Terminal 1. All check in desks and arrivals are on the ground floor. The central security area, along with airside shops and restaurants are located on the first floor. Terminal 1 was opened on 3 April 1984, seventeen years after the original plans to construct a new terminal to ease congestion in the original Elmdon Terminal ( Grade II listed since August 2018 and used for private and official flights). Since then, T1 has been extended multiple times to accommodate
2337-411: The private equity unit of Lloyds Banking Group, was completed in January 2015 for £307 million. In October 2018, Blackstone acquired NEC Group from Lloyds Development Capital, paying around £800 million for the group. From early April 2020 the NEC housed NHS Nightingale Hospital Birmingham , an emergency hospital scheduled to open on 10 April, and receive its first patients on 12 April, as part of
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2394-547: The project's total expenditure amounted to around £360,000. Construction work proceeded at a rapid pace; on 1 May 1939, the airport had been completed to such a degree that it was ready to handle traffic. On 8 July 1939, the Duchess of Kent, Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark , accompanied by the Prime Minister , Neville Chamberlain , officiated at the opening of Elmdon Airport . Its terminal, which incorporated
2451-475: The railway station and the airport terminal is provided by the free Air-Rail Link . As part of Phase 1 of the High Speed 2 rail link, a new railway station called Birmingham Interchange will be built to serve both the airport and the National Exhibition Centre . The station will be built on the far side of the M42 motorway and connect to the airport using a "rapid transit people mover ". High Speed 2
2508-414: The shorter runway (06/24) was decommissioned. It had been used less often due to its short length, noise impact, and its inconvenient position crossing the main runway, making it uneconomic to continue operation. The closure also allowed for apron expansion on both sides of the main runway. However, runway 06/24 remains open as a taxiway and a helicopter airstrip. In the same month, plans for the extension of
2565-462: The signage and branding with the new name on can be prepared for future events in that month. On 9 March 2020, the NEC Group announced that they had submitted a planning application to Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council to expand the arena's capacity from 15,685 to 21,600, which would have made it the largest indoor arena in the United Kingdom. This development would involve the replacement of
2622-529: The target for completion was in time for the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics . An Olympic ceremony was held at the airport on 23 April 2012. The Olympic rings were unveiled on the tower and could be seen from the A45 road and the main terminal building. This was to commemorate the build-up to the London 2012 Olympic Games. These rings were removed once the Olympic Games officially closed, just before
2679-594: The tenth-busiest arena in the world and was ranked 13th-busiest in 2014. It was announced in November 2014 that as part of a sponsorship deal with the casino group , the arena would be renamed the Genting Arena from 6 January 2015. On 25 September 2018, the NEC Group announced that the Genting Arena will be renamed Resorts World Arena as of 3 December of that year. Genting UK will continue to sponsor
2736-408: The way to or from Birmingham coach station . Black cabs are available at the taxi-rank outside the arrivals area of the terminal. Birmingham Airport is accessible from the north and south via Junction Six of the M42 motorway . From Birmingham city centre, the A45 runs directly to the airport. Parking charges apply in some areas even for very short periods of time, with locations farther from
2793-409: Was built in the Millennium Link and the two terminals to accommodate the new Centralised Security Search area. In July 2011, construction of a new control tower began. The new control tower was completed in March 2012; it replaced the airport's original tower, which had been used since the airport opened in 1939. On 23 February 2011, Birmingham Airport announced that the High Speed 2 railway could be
2850-455: Was disputed by opponents. Plans for a second runway (a third when demand requires) on the other side of the M42 and a new terminal complex and business park have been published, and they could help to create around 250,000 jobs. It has been estimated that if these plans went ahead, the airport could handle around 70,000,000 passengers annually, and around 500,000 aircraft movements. In January 2008,
2907-535: Was officially renamed as the LG Arena , following a naming-rights sponsorship deal with global electronics company LG . The arena then underwent a £29 million overhaul of its facilities, paid for by loans from Birmingham City Council and regional development agency Advantage West Midlands . Work on the LG Arena was finished mid October 2009 and the arena hosted its first concert with Tom Jones . Included in
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#17327732351562964-547: Was once home to the world's first commercial maglev system in the form of a low-speed maglev shuttle that ran along a 620-metre line between the terminal and the nearby Birmingham International railway station . Following a year of testing and trial use, the Birmingham Airport Maglev was opened to great fanfare during April 1984. However, during 1995, the Maglev rail link was discontinued after 11 years;
3021-579: Was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1976. The NEC was originally going to be built adjacent to the M1 motorway (junction 21) near Leicester but it was turned down by Leicestershire County Council with claims that "The big shows won't move away from London". The building was designed by Edward Mills. In November 1971, the Secretary of State for the Environment granted outline planning approval for
3078-412: Was opened, which was fittingly called The International Building . Furthermore, work to extend the airport's main runway to 7,400 feet (1.4 miles) was undertaken between 1967 and 1970, which permitted the launch of new services using turboprop and jet-powered airliners. Accordingly, a new service to New York using VC-10 airliner was launched during 1967. By the early 1970s, Birmingham Airport
3135-536: Was recruited to "create a new corporate identity that reflects Birmingham Airport's current position in the market place, as well as its future potential". Figures from Birmingham Airport show that 8 million people live within a one hour's drive of the airport, but less than 40% of them use it. It is hoped that the rebrand will make the airport "more visible to the market". In November 2010, the new name started to be used. The new logo, interlocking circles in shades of blue, and slogan, "Hello World", were designed to reflect
3192-534: Was replaced by two hard runways : 06/24 at 2,469 feet (753 m) and 15/33 at 4,170 feet (1,271 m). Large numbers of Avro Lancaster and Stirling bombers were manufactured at the Austin Aero Company 's shadow factory at Cofton Hackett , but were unable to take off from the short runways at Longbridge ; thus, they were transported by road to RAF Elmdon, their wings being removed beforehand and re-attached after arrival. They were test flown from
3249-454: Was reportedly handling around one million passengers per year, albeit through a relatively congested passenger terminal. In 1974, the newly formed West Midlands Metropolitan County Council took over management of the airport. On 16 September 1980, the supersonic airliner Concorde made its first visit to Birmingham Airport. On 20 October 2003, Concorde made its final visit to the airport as part of its farewell tour . Birmingham Airport
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