Works begins on new security area at Birmingham Airport

Work is under way on a new security screening area at Birmingham Airport (BHX) in the UK.

The airport says that the new facility, being built within the existing terminal building, will result in a speedier, simpler pre-flight security screening process for customers.

UK Government requires all airports to be compliant with new standards by June 1, 2024, which is the completion deadline for the project, a total investment of more than £20 million

“We are seizing this as an opportunity to improve our operation and, crucially, the customer experience we offer at BHX,” said Al Titterington, Birmingham Airport’s terminal operations director.

“Installing our Next-Generation Security (NGS) system will deliver a speedier and simpler pre-flight screening process capable of serving significantly more passengers per hour at peak times.”

In its Master Plan published in 2018, BHX outlined its aspiration to grow customer volumes from 12 million passengers per annum (pre-pandemic) to 18mppa by 2033.

According to the airport, rising passenger numbers will provide a significant boost to the local economy, noting that in 2019, BHX contributed £1.5 billion (£3,000 a minute) to the West Midlands economy and supported a total of 30,900 jobs.

This GVA (gross value added) figure is set to rise to £2.1 billion and 34,400 jobs by 2033 and up to 38,600 if all the manufacturing jobs associated with the airport’s presence are taken into account.

The airport’s contractors, Tilbury Douglas, began work project this week, its initial steps including setting up site compounds before moving ahead with the project itself.

In recent weeks, BHX’s landside Burger King and Frankie & Benny’s eateries have closed to accommodate the new screening area.