Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • Birmingham Airport sees numbers exceed pre-pandemic levels

Aerospace

Birmingham Airport sees numbers exceed pre-pandemic levels

Customer volumes at Birmingham Airport (BHX) last month exceeded 2019 levels for the first time.

Image courtesy BHX

In October this year 1,106,000 customers travelled through the Midlands transport hub compared to 1,101,000 in October 2019.

Tom Screen, aviation director for BHX, said: “Last month our customer numbers were 100.4% of what they were October 2019 - officially the first month we’ve surpassed pre-pandemic numbers, having been hovering in the high nineties for quite a while.  

Advertisement
ODU RT

“It’s good to hit this milestone as we continue to recover from Covid. With more routes, more airlines and more based aircraft, it’s no surprise we’re seeing more customers.

“Meanwhile construction of our state-of-the-art new security hall is due to be complete by June 2024. This is part of £300 m of upgrades to BHX planned in the coming decade. We’re on our way to becoming a bigger, better, greener airport for our customers.”

In 2019/20 BHX served more than 12 million customers. Then Covid struck, reducing customers volumes by more than 90% to just one million in 2020/21.  

In 2021/22, with Covid still wreaking havoc, customer volumes rose slightly to three million.  
When the Government reopened the borders in March 2022, customers surged back. In 2022/23 BHX customer volumes totalled 10.5 million.  

This year, 2023/24, BHX expects to draw level or even exceed 2019/20 numbers.

Advertisement
ODU RT

 


 

Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner
Drones help restore Peak District ravine woodlands

Aerospace

Drones help restore Peak District ravine woodlands

2 June 2026

A pioneering drone seed-spreading trial has taken to the skies above the Peak District, as the 'LIFE in the Ravines' project led by Natural England explores innovative new ways to restore precious ravine woodlands devastated by ash dieback disease.

SAM NI completes £10m facility expansion

Aerospace

SAM NI completes £10m facility expansion

2 June 2026

Portadown based precision engineering firm SAM NI has completed a £10 million expansion of its manufacturing facility marking a major milestone in the company’s growth as a manufacturer of high-precision aerospace components and assemblies.

Omnisense and 42T partner on resilient drone landing system

Aerospace Defence Security

Omnisense and 42T partner on resilient drone landing system

1 June 2026

Omnisense, which specialises in terrestrial positioning technology, has partnered with 42 Technology (42T) to demonstrate a safer autonomous drone landing system when satellite navigation signals are unreliable.

Thompson showcases VantageXL for Discover Airlines at Red Cabin Summit

Aerospace Events

Thompson showcases VantageXL for Discover Airlines at Red Cabin Summit

1 June 2026

Craigavon based Thompson Aero Seating (TAS) will today be showcasing its customised VantageXL seat for Discover Airlines’ A330s for the very first time at the Red Cabin / Aircraft Cabin Innovation Summit Europe, being held 1st-3rd June at Lufthansa Seeheim, Germany.

Advertisement
ODU RT
ZeroAvia begins leadership transition

Aerospace

ZeroAvia begins leadership transition

29 May 2026

ZeroAvia today announced that founder and Chief Executive Officer Val Miftakhov has stepped down as CEO, effective 26th May 2026, to pursue new opportunities.

IATA reports ups and downs in April air cargo and passenger demand

Aerospace

IATA reports ups and downs in April air cargo and passenger demand

28 May 2026

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for April 2026, showing that due to conflict in the Middle East, total global air cargo was up 4.0%, whilst global passenger demand was down -3.4% compared to April 2025.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner