No.10 urged to back expansion of airport Prime Minister could consider developing city’s air hub as UK faces major decisions over capacity

AN expanded Birmingham Airport is being considered by Prime Minister Theresa May as a way to tackle the capital’s congestion in the skies, according to reports.

Treasury Minister Jim O’Neill has urged Number 10 to consider the potential for growth at the airport once it is linked with London via high-speed rail line HS2, reports claimed this week.

Once up and running in 2026, journey times between the airport and London are expected to be slashed to around 40 minutes. There would be further incentives once additional highspeed rail lines connecting Birmingham with Manchester and Leeds open in 2033 under the second phase of HS2.

Lord O’Neill’s intervention comes as the Cabinet decides whether to expand Heathrow or Gatwick – the latter being the favoured choice of Birmingham Airport’s chief executive Paul Kehoe.

Birmingham Airport currently operates at around 44 per cent of its maximum capacity, welcoming about 11 million passengers a year.

Howard Davies’ airports review gave those two airports as the best options for expansion, but the reports said Lord O’Neill had told Number 10 that opting for a big expansion at Birmingham would send a massive signal on rebalancing the British economy.

A decision could be taken next month on this expansion and leaked documents hint that MPs will be given a free vote.

Lord Davies eliminated Birmingham from his review at an early stage and argued there was not a strong case for expanding the airport.

His commission said in 2013 that Birmingham Airport would not be operating at capacity until the mid-2040s and expansion would lead to an increase in noise for a relatively high number of people.

A statement from the airport said: “A vibrant Birmingham Airport is vital to the growth of our region and we need to maximise the benefits of HS2.

“With HS2’s arrival in ten years, Birmingham Airport will become the UK’s first highspeed connected airport and its catchment area will be dramatically enlarged into central London, giving it an increasingly national role.”