p45 air nov7 4/11/08 15:16 Page 45
Air
Chris Gray
020 7921 8003
cgray@ttglive.com
For the latest news about flights, airlines and airports, visit
ttglive.com/air
Interview Paul Kehoe, chief executive, Birmingham International airport
Birmingham’s boss reveals
his long and short strategy
As airport awaits ruling on plan to extend its runway, new boss Paul
Kehoe tells Chris Gray that Birmingham can thrive whatever verdict
T
he week before Paul Kehoe started tions from Birmingham, and Ryanair announced has that and Birmingham does that. How many
work as chief executive of Birmingham it was opening its 25th base there only this year. others do it? Not many,” he says.
International airport, US Airways Ryanair started 17 routes from Birmingham His strategy will mean encouraging no-frills
announced it would fly from the UK’s this year, and plans to increase the number of airlines to take off-peak slots to keep passengers
second city to Philadelphia next year. aircraft based there from two to 10 by 2013. coming through the airport.
The daily flight, to start in May, is a dramatic Low-cost traffic accounted for 4.8 million Kehoe also wants to engage with Birmingham’s
addition to Birmingham’s network as it connects passengers, or 50%, of Birmingham’s 9.6 million travel agents as he says he did with those in
the city with 108 destinations in North and South passengers in the year to September. Bristol, working with them to provide flights
America via the Philadelphia hub. Kehoe denies there is a risk of the airport their customers want. “In Bristol we had a sales
But it also highlights the constraints on the becoming too dependent on Ryanair which, as manager who was always on the road talking to
airport’s range, which cannot handle aircraft for Valencia has learned, can quit a base quickly. business and leisure agents and we don’t really
destinations farther than Philadelphia unless its “Birmingham should have been talking to do that here. I think we should,” he says.
runway is lengthened by 400m to 3,000m. easyJet and Ryanair some time ago. It shouldn’t All this can be done without a longer runway,
Solihull Council is due to rule on a planning have been Ryanair’s 25th base; it should have but Kehoe says it is needed to give Birmingham
application for the extension next month, and it been its 9th or 10th base,” he says. access to more long-haul destinations, as well
could then be built within three years. “Having a balanced portfolio model gives you as allowing aircraft to take off using less power –
However, Kehoe believes there is a chance low-cost airlines to provide a bedrock of traffic reducing noise and fuel consumption.
the government could “call in” the application, and on top of that, quality full service airlines If the decision does go against Birmingham,
potentially putting the decision back by months and a good charter programme as well. Bristol as might be likely if it is called in and a Conserv-
or years. This means the airport has to plan for ative party opposed to airport expansion wins
development with or without the extra length. “If Heathrow does not the next election, Kehoe says Birmingham has
The answer, he believes is to pursue a similar
strategy as he did as chief executive at Bristol
get a third runway,
other ways to expand.
“If Heathrow does not get a third runway, then
airport, building up a mix of no-frills, charter and Birmingham could Birmingham effectively becomes London’s third
network carrier traffic.
Birmingham joined the no-frills revolution
effectively become
runway,” he adds. “If Heathrow’s third runway is
refused and a high-speed rail link is built, Birm-
relatively late. EasyJet serves just two destina- that third runway” ingham could be just 35 minutes from London.”
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07.11.2008 45
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