BIRMINGHAM International Airport is talking to incumbent and non-resident carriers about launching new European and transatlantic services.
Director of business development Peter Vella said: “The new routes that are possible include Lisbon, Athens, Oslo, some on the Mediterranean coast and central European cities. “There is also opportunity for transatlantic growth to hub airports in the US,” he said.
The airport serves 50 scheduled destinations, but these are concentrated on the main European and domestic cities.
Exceptions include New York Newark, Chicago and the former Soviet cities of Ashkhabad, Bishkek and Tashkent in Turkmenistan, Krygyzstan and Uzbekistan respectively. Vella claimed there was a big demand from Birmingham’s business passengers for extra services, especially in the long-haulsector.
“On European destinations, we are just a whisker behind Manchester Airport but we do fall down on long haul and charter traffic,” said Vella.
In Europe, Birmingham is well served with British Airways flights operated by Maersk Air and British Airways Regional. They are expected to add to their network this year.
To the US, the airport only has Continental Airlines services to New York and American Airlines flights to Chicago. Vella is talking to other US airlines about new routes.
He said: “The possibilities are to Atlanta and St Louis, and maybe Toronto, due to the huge onward traffic at these hubs.”
Delta Air Lines serves Atlanta and TWA is at St Louis.