Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport
The Birmingham International Airport (BHM/KBHM) is the major airport serving Birmingham and Central Alabama. It is located four miles northeast of downtown Birmingham, near the interchange of I-20 and I-59. The airport serves approximately 3 million passengers in annualy, and is the largest and busiest airport in the state, offering 80 daily departures to 25 cities nonstop and 35 cities direct.
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 pasengers 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.
Expansions
There are currently several capital improvement projects underway, including the 2,000 foot runway expansion to runway 6-24. When the extension is completed, Runway 6/24 will be 12,000 feet in length. The extension would provide enough runway length for a fully- loaded and fueled Boeing 747 to land or takeoff in Birmingham. Other projects currently underway include a $20 million Air Cargo Complex expansion as well as resurfacing of the Air Carrier Apron area. Recently officals announced a terminal expansion which includes adding another concourse and a new baggage screening area. 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 10,000 feet long, and construction is currently underway to expand it to 12,000 feet. 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 a wing of KC-135R air tankers. 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.
Concourses
BHM has one terminal building and is divided into 2 concourses, B and C.
Concourse B
Gates B1-B6
- American Airlines Gate B1 (Dallas/Fort Worth)
- Continental Airlines Gate B2 (Houston-Intercontinental)
- Continental Express operated by ExpressJet Airlines (Cleveland, Houston-Intercontinental, Newark)
- Northwest Airlines Gates B3 and B5 (Detroit, Memphis)
- Northwest Airlink operated by Mesaba Airlines (Detroit, Memphis)
- Northwest Airlink operated by Pinnacle Airlines (Detroit, Memphis)
- US Airways Gates B2, B4, and B6
- US Airways Express operated by Mesa Airlines (Charlotte)
- US Airways Express operated by PSA Airlines (Charlotte, Philadelphia)
Concourse C
Gates C1-C12 and C14
Gates C5, C7, C9, and C11 are not currently in use. Due to American triskaidekaphobia, there is no gate C13.
- Delta Air Lines Gates C2, C4, C6, and C8 (Atlanta)
- Delta Connection operated by Atlantic Southeast Airlines (Atlanta)
- Delta Connection operated by Chautauqua Airlines (Orlando)
- Delta Connection operated by Comair (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, New York-LaGuardia, Washington-Reagan)
- Delta Connection operated by Freedom Airlines (Orlando, Tampa)
- Southwest Airlines Gates C10, C12, and C14 (Baltimore/Washington, Chicago-Midway, Houston-Hobby, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Louisville, Nashville, Orlando, Phoenix, St. Louis, Tampa)
- United Airlines Gates C1 and C3
- United Express operated by Mesa Airlines (Washington Dulles [starts September 6])
- United Express operated by SkyWest (Chicago-O'Hare, Denver)
See also
External links
- Birmingham International Airport (official site)
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