BHX Sale press release
Birmingham International Airport (BIA) today paid tribute to the
significant development of the Airport since Aer Rianta International
obtained a shareholding in 1997 and Macquarie Airports Group obtained
a shareholding in 2002.
BIA also acknowledged the continuing commitment of the seven West
Midland District Councils, the Airports main shareholders, to ensure
that BIA continues to play a fundamental role in the economic success
of the Region.
Back in 1996 there were just 5.4 million passengers travelling
through BIA – compared with 9.4 million in 2005. Such tremendous
growth has only been achieved through all the shareholders working in
partnership to deliver a comprehensive investment and improvement
programme, which has provided BIA with the additional capacity and
facilities demanded by the region.
More than £250M has been invested in the sustainable development of
BIA over the last decade, despite a variety of global shocks – and
this massive vote of confidence has ensured that the region can
continue to compete on the World stage.
BIA's Managing Director, Richard Heard, said: "Under the current
public/private partnership shareholding arrangements, Birmingham
International Airport has grown and developed in stature tremendously
over the last ten years. The Airport now directly supports some
11,000 jobs and directly contributes over £200m per annum to the
Midlands economy. Beyond those direct impacts, our role in providing
the international connectivity to support other businesses, inward
investment and regeneration is even more significant. All that has
been achieved in a sustainable manner, with some of the strictest
environmental policies of any airport in the UK.
The Airport Company looks forward to the development of new
shareholding arrangements with the active involvement of the District
Councils, but otherwise, it is very much `business as usual' as the
Company remains committed to providing the outstanding international
airport and network of international connections that the region
wants and deserves."