BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (US)

'Birmingham International Airport' is the major airport that serves Birmingham, Alabama and Central Alabama. It is located five miles northeast of downtown Birmingham, near the interchange of I-20 and I-59. BHM served more than 3 million passengers in 2005, and is the largest and busiest airport in the state of Alabama. It has also been mentioned by Atlanta talk show host Clark Howard as a cheap alternate airport for Atlanta travelers due to the presence of Southwest Airlines. Birmingham International Airport currently offers 87 daily departures to 28 cities nonstop and 35 cities direct.
The Southern Museum of Flight is also located at the Birmingham International Airport, immediately adjacent on the east side of the North-South runway.

Contents

History

Expansions

Military Use

Airlines and destinations

Main Terminal

Concourse B

Concourse C

See also

References

External links

History

On May 31, 1931, The Birmingham Airport opened with pomp, ceremony and the greatest air show that the city had ever seen. Hundreds came to witness the Birmingham debut of commercial passenger service with a stop by American Airways along its Atlanta to Fort Worth route.
Fifty-five years and several expansions later, without ceremony or flair and only a fleeting public notice, the Birmingham Airport Authority was established by the Birmingham City Council. This June 1986 event would prove to be a prelude to the continued growth and significant revitalization of Alabama's largest commercial airport. The present terminal building was completed in 1972. It has 20 airline gates and separate levels for arrival and departure.
At the time of creation of the Airport Authority, the Birmingham Airport offered only 38 daily departures. By December of 1987, 43 cities could be reached by non-stop and /or direct service from one of eight airlines (American, Eastern, Piedmont, Northwest, USAir, Delta, Southwest and United). By October 1988, the Birmingham Airport offered 65 daily departures and served 1.9 million passengers.
In 1993, as Birmingham marked the completion of a $50.4 million terminal renovation, flights were up to 77 departures per day, serving nearly 2.1 million passengers that year. Direct service was added to destinations in Mexico and Canada and on October 20, 1993 the name was officially changed to Birmingham International Airport.
The Birmingham Airport peaked in 2000 with 3,067,777 passengers served and 81 daily departures non-stop to 28 cities and direct to 48 cities. The first half of 2001 was setting the stage for another record year when the tragic terrorist attacks occurred on September 11. In the post-terrorist attack climate of 2001, BHM served 2.8 million passengers. However, in 2005, the number of passengers rebounded back over the 3 million mark which signifies the airport's growing regional and national air passenger importance. In 2006, Birmingham International Airport celebrated its 75th year of serving the central Alabama region.
In July of 2007, a 2,000 foot runway expansion to runway 6/24 was completed and dedicated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Now at 12,002 feet in length, runway 6/24 will now provide enough runway length for a fully- loaded and fueled Boeing 747 to land or takeoff in Birmingham.

Expansions

There are currently several capital improvement projects underway, including a $20 million Air Cargo Complex expansion as well as resurfacing of the Air Carrier Apron area. Recently officials announced a terminal expansion which includes adding another concourse and a new baggage screening area. The terminal expansion and modernization, slated to begin in early 2008, will also include more modern customer conveniences, an upgrade of concessions, and Federal Inspection Service-approved international gates. The estimated cost of the terminal expansion is $161 million.

Military Use

The airfield is capable of handling all aircraft types. The main runway is 12,002 feet long.^[1] The secondary runway is 7,100 feet long. A Category II instrument landing system allows operations in visibility as low as a quarter mile.
The Air National Guard has a base which includes nine KC-135R air tankers assigned to the 117th Air Refueling Wing. In the past, the air guard unit operated reconnaissance aircraft. There is also an aviation support facility for the Army National Guard.
An aircraft modification facility, originally built during World War II, is presently operated by Pemco Aeroplex. There are also two fixed base operators and numerous corporate hangars.

Airlines and destinations

Main Terminal

BHM currently has one terminal building which is divided into 2 concourses, B and C.

Concourse B

★ American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) Gate B1

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★ American Eagle (Chicago-O'Hare)

★ Continental Airlines (Houston-Intercontinental) Gate B2

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★ Continental Express operated by ExpressJet Airlines (Houston-Intercontinental, Newark)

★ Northwest Airlines (Memphis) Gates B3, B5

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★ Northwest Airlink operated by Pinnacle Airlines (Detroit, Memphis)

★ US Airways Gates B4, B6

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★ US Airways Express operated by Mesa Airlines (Charlotte)

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★ US Airways Express operated by PSA Airlines (Charlotte)

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★ US Airways Express operated by Republic Airlines (Charlotte, Philadelphia)

Concourse C

★ Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) Gates C2, C4, C6, C8

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★ Delta Connection operated by Atlantic Southeast Airlines (Atlanta)

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★ Delta Connection operated by Chautauqua Airlines (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky)

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★ Delta Connection operated by Comair (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, New York-LaGuardia, Orlando)

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★ Delta Connection operated by Freedom Airlines (Orlando)

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★ Delta Connection operated by SkyWest (Atlanta, Salt Lake City)

★ ExpressJet Airlines (New Orleans, Raleigh/Durham) Gate C5

★ Southwest Airlines (Baltimore/Washington, Chicago-Midway, Dallas-Love, Houston-Hobby, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Louisville, Nashville, New Orleans [begins November 4], Orlando, Phoenix, St. Louis, Tampa) Gates C10, C12, C14

★ United Airlines Gates C1, C3

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★ United Express operated by Mesa Airlines (Chicago-O'Hare, Washington-Dulles)

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★ United Express operated by SkyWest (Chicago-O'Hare, Denver)

See also

★ Alabama International Airport Authority

References

1. Airport diagram. (July 2007). Federal Aviation Administration.

External links

★ Birmingham International Airport (official web site)

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