UK. Birmingham Airport recently embarked upon a ten-year £300 million transformation that will allow for much-enhanced capacity by 2033.
A big highlight is the development of a new pre-flight security screening area, with the existing security search space being transformed into an airside food & beverage zone across 20,000sq ft, with views of the apron and runway. The space reconfiguration will expand airside F&B space by around +40%.
Discussing the plans with The Moodie Davitt Report at Birmingham Airport this week, Commercial Director Richard Gill explained: “We have seen a lot of pressure put on our food & beverage estate primarily because we are building our next generation security, which is a £60 million investment in its own right. To do this we have taken out around 20,000sq ft of landside food & beverage and lost some core F&B offers such as Frankie and Benny’s, All Bar One and Burger King, which closed on the level where the new security is being developed by next summer.
“That demand has come airside, which we can cope with as our new security will have capacity for 4,000 passengers an hour against 2,000 currently, and people will move airside faster and more efficiently.
“So the opportunity arises from the relocation of security, which also involves opening up the space where security exists currently to allow in natural light and views of the apron. That will also involve moving the World Duty Free shop by 6m, which will connect the space much better in future.”
Under the current airside F&B plans, up to six new F&B opportunities will arise in the newly created space, ranging from 150sq m to 450sq m, alongside a new business lounge plus a retail opportunity. Sizes and concepts will be finalised as the programme proceeds.
According to the airport company, categories of interest include an Asian QSR/casual dining; a chicken-led QSR concept; an Italian casual dining; a premium bar and a branded food court offer. Healthy, sustainable and halal options will be welcomed from potential partners.
| Twin focus: Low-cost and long-haul strategy Birmingham Airport says that it currently ‘leaks’ up to 40% of its low-cost leisure customers to other UK airports. By increasing destinations, frequencies and airlines it plans to improve its share among these carriers. EasyJet is developing a base for three aircraft at the airport. The airport company is also using the traffic growth and the addition of HS2 connectivity to market to global carriers. Having secured strong Middle Eastern connections, New York, Toronto, Mumbai and Hong Kong are among its next targets. |
Gill said: “We have to serve new demographics with the strong Middle East traffic we generate through Emirates, Qatar Airways and Saudia, plus Turkish Airlines and Air India.
“We won’t cannibalise what we have got but we have the demand to grow our category base and develop new categories within this new space.”
Birmingham Airport plans a tendering process for the new F&B spaces in the first half of 2024, with timings to be confirmed. It is expected that new units will be trading by the second half of 2025.
“From the very start we have approached many potential F&B concession partners to ensure that our thinking is going the right way. And we are excited about what they will propose to us in the RFP to come.”
Gill added: “We have the right conditions for investment with further passenger growth coming. During COVID we didn’t force businesses to spend cash they didn’t have when there were very few passengers. We are adding newness at the right time. We have added a new Giraffe, Burger King and Starbucks over the last 12 months, plus expanded JD Sports and WHSmith retail stores.
“And it’s all part of a £300 million investment in the airport over ten years to ensure we have the operational efficiency and environment we need and passengers expect.”
The airport company has a plan to reach 18 million passengers by 2033, from 12.3 million pre-pandemic. This will also be aided by the completion of HS2, the rail line linking London and Birmingham.
“October was the first month when we exceeded our pre-COVID numbers; now we are full steam ahead to exceeding those next year as we head towards our 18 million target,” said Gill.
Key projects at Birmingham Airport between now and 2033 include:
*New security screening (June 2024)
*Turning existing security into airside F&B (2025)
*Phase 2 of security upgrade including air-rail link
*Check-in area upgrade
*Systems including Air Traffic Control
*Immigration
*Baggage reclaim
*Improved road and rail connections
*Air-rail link to HS2 Interchange station
*Runway, taxiways, apron upgrades
*For more information on the upcoming F&B opportunities, please contact commercial@birminghamairport.co.uk
Click here for our on location coverage of the WHSmith Travel flagship store opening at Birmingham Airport this week.
The world’s only event dedicated solely to the airport food & beverage and hospitality sectors will make a welcome return to the US next June. Please contact The Moodie Davitt Report Head of Events Jeannie Wong at Jeannie@MoodieDavittReport.com for details.
