oldoberon.
Your friend may speak some truth regarding problems with the runway.However how much is truth and how much is mud slinging is another matter.
True,problems were encountered during the resurfacing work last winter,exactly what I am not sure.Many rumours were doing the rounds,some suggest the extremely wet weather was a factor.Others say inferior products were used in the runway surface materials.This is the reason why the runway is being resurfaced again this winter as well As well as iron out some other long standing issues.I was told that the aim was to flatten out the runway.If you look from one end to the other you can see a series of 'waves' all the way down the length of it.
However none of this has anything to do with the type of aircraft using it.2014 has been a record breaking year in terms passengers using the airport,with many months being the best ever.
Also new routes and airlines for 2015 show that BHX s on the radar of many companies.Vueling,Icelandair and Norwegian to start by the spring.Norwegian in particular is a major coup,especially as it has been suggested elsewhere a large base could be set up with long haul flights to follow(USA permitting).
Add to that American A/L daily to JFK,and a 3rd daily to Dubai,as well as further charter flights to China(perhaps)would suggest an airport on the up.Not bad for a regional,which would not necessarily need large aircraft anyway,just a long enough runway for twin jets to use.