Commenting on the Aviation White Paper published today, Michael Fabricant
has welcomed the decision to add a new runway to Birmingham International
Airport. He says: "Although the runway is unlikely to be constructed for
10 years yet, it will stimulate the economy of the West Midlands. With
the opening of the M6 Toll Road, accessibility to the Airport from Lichfield
and Burntwood has been improved. This will not only make travel by air from
the BIA more convenient for my constituents, the extra runway in due course
will bring added business opportunities to the constituency".

Birmingham International Airport (BIA) is the UK’s second largest airport
outside London, the third largest for charter travel, and the UK’s fifth
largest overall. Currently, BIA serves over 100 destinations with more than
50 scheduled and charter airlines. The Airport will handle more than nine
million passengers by the end of 2003.

The noise environment around Birmingham Airport has improved dramatically in
recent years. Over the six years after 1996, there was an 80% reduction in
the population exposed to noise and a 70% reduction in the area affected,
despite a 46% increase in aircraft arrivals and departures.

BIA meets the largest proportion of regional demand for air travel
BIA has the second highest proportion of international business travellers
after Heathrow
BIA has more people living within two hour’s drive time than any other UK
airport
BIA is the only UK airport located next to an intercity rail line with
unique opportunities to develop multi-modal integration and access from all
parts of the Midlands
BIA is the only Midlands airport situated next to a Regeneration Zone
BIA has invested nearly £300 million in passenger and public transport
infrastructure in the last ten years
BIA has an enviable track record of successfully mitigating environmental
impact, and operates the toughest night noise policy of any UK airport