Boost for Birmingham ambitions
Article in Air Cargo week...........
THE UK's Birmingham International Airport, the country's second largest gateway outside the London region, processed over 21,000 tonnes of cargo in 2010, up by 65% on 2009 figures.
According to the airport, the improvement comes on the back of "a massive increase in dedicated cargo flights.....underlining the growing importance of the airport to the regional and national manufacturing sector".
During 2010, freighters accounted for 3,121 of the flights handled at the airport, with scheduled express services operated to France, Ireland and the Netherlands, plus ad hoc services to and from points all over Europe.
Birmingham claims that its dedicated cargo apron is proving ideal for these operations, helping the airport to win freight business from around the country.
Andrew Davies, head of air service development at Birmingham airport, believes its 24-hour, all-weather capability and the presence of specialist cargo handling partner Blue City Aviation, "have proved especially useful to the automotive sector, both nationally and locally".
He noted: " Many of the consignments...need to reach their destination urgently, so we play a major part in keeping production lines open".
Mike Hollick, commercial director at Blue City Aviation, drew attention to "a very positive trend in cargo movements, indicative of the resurgence in Midlands manufacturing. "We are now aiming for further growth in this sector"
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