Birmingham Airport is marking 87 years since it first opened its doors as Elmdon Airport on July 8, 1939, but passengers are more focused on the seemingly endless construction work. The airport celebrated the milestone on social media, posting a tribute on Instagram and Facebook that highlighted its history. However, the post was met with a flurry of comments from Brummies joking about the ongoing refurbishments that have become a hallmark of the airport's recent years.
Historical Milestone from Elmdon to Today
The airport was officially opened by HRH The Duchess of Kent alongside Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain on July 8, 1939. Just two months later, the outbreak of World War II forced all civil aviation to cease, and the facility was requisitioned by the Air Ministry as RAF Elmdon. It was used for wartime production and flight testing, including the delivery of Stirling and Lancaster bombers manufactured nearby. After the war, the airfield returned to civilian use on July 8, 1946, with commercial services resuming in 1949. Control officially reverted to the City of Birmingham in 1960.
Passenger Reactions to Perpetual Improvements
Since then, the airport has gained a reputation for constant upgrades and refurbishments. A new reconfigured walkway is being developed between Gates 1 to 20 and the main Departures Lounge, along with three new major food and beverage concepts, including a massive new Wagamama scheduled to open this summer in 2026. There is also a new premium lounge being built within the departures lounge to cater to the growing business travel market. On Facebook, one commenter jokingly wrote: "Another 87 years before the work is completed?" Another added: "87yrs, is that how long the refurbishment gonna take." Some even made suggestions, with one saying: "We need the airport to expand and increase capacity with more terminals and runways was two runway now one airport."
£300 Million Transformation Tied to HS2 Timeline
The immediate £300 million terminal transformation is set to a tight deadline of 2029 to meet HS2's own deadline for the area. However, the broader transformation is scheduled to be complete by 2033. Yet, passenger services for HS2 aren't officially expected to begin running between Birmingham's Curzon Street station and Old Oak Common in west London until between May 2036 and October 2039. This leaves a gap between the airport's refurbishment completion and the arrival of high-speed rail, which may further fuel passenger skepticism about the timeline.
