Air Freight from Birmingham Airport (BHX)
Birmingham Airport (BHX) is one of the UK's most important international gateways from the heart of the Midlands.
While East Midlands Airport has developed a particularly strong reputation for dedicated cargo operations, Birmingham Airport provides another important air-freight gateway for businesses across Birmingham, Coventry, Warwickshire and the wider West Midlands.
The airport's location, long-haul capability and connections to the M42, M6, A45 and M40 make it particularly relevant to businesses that need to connect warehouses, manufacturers and distribution operations with international markets.
And Birmingham Airport has a remarkable history.
Its origins date back to 1928, its first commercial services began in 1939, it was requisitioned during the Second World War and it has subsequently undergone major runway and terminal developments to become the international airport serving the Midlands today.
For businesses looking for air freight from Birmingham Airport, understanding the airport's history, infrastructure and geographical position helps explain why BHX remains an important part of the Midlands logistics network.
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What is the airport code for Birmingham Airport?
The IATA airport code for Birmingham Airport is:
BHX
The airport is located in Solihull, immediately to the east of Birmingham and close to the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham International railway station and the M42 motorway.
This places BHX within one of the most heavily connected transport areas in the Midlands.
When did Birmingham Airport open?
Birmingham Airport's history goes back further than its 1939 opening.
In 1928, Birmingham City Council recognised the need for a municipal airport.
Plans were delayed by the economic depression, but in 1933 the Elmdon area was selected as the preferred location.
The airport began services in May 1939, with routes including Croydon, Glasgow, Liverpool, Ryde, Shoreham, Manchester and Southampton.
It was officially opened as Elmdon Airport on 8 July 1939 by HRH The Duchess of Kent.
Just two months later, the Second World War began.
Civil flying stopped and the airport was requisitioned by the Air Ministry.
Birmingham Airport during the Second World War
During the war, Elmdon Airport was used for military aviation.
It operated as an Elementary Flying School and was also used by the Fleet Air Arm.
The site was involved in flight testing and became a delivery base for aircraft including Stirling and Lancaster bombers.
During this period, the Air Ministry constructed two hard-surface runways to replace the original grass strip.
Civil aviation eventually returned.
On 8 July 1946, exactly seven years after its official opening, Birmingham Airport reopened for civil flying.
The growth of Birmingham Airport
The post-war period saw Birmingham Airport develop rapidly.
In 1949, scheduled services to Paris began with British European Airways.
During the 1950s, international services expanded to destinations including:
- Zurich
- Düsseldorf
- Palma
- Amsterdam
- Barcelona
In 1961, the International Building opened.
The main runway was subsequently extended between 1967 and 1970, allowing turboprop aircraft and jets to operate from the airport.
By the early 1970s, Birmingham Airport was handling more than one million passengers a year.
The modern Birmingham Airport terminal
Rapid growth eventually required a completely new terminal.
Construction began in 1981 and the new terminal opened in 1984, with HRH The Queen officially opening the facility.
Further investment followed.
The airport opened its £45 million International Pier in 2009, replacing an older facility dating from 1984.
The airport also introduced its Air-Rail Link in 2003, connecting Birmingham International railway station with the airport.
Birmingham Airport's 2014 runway extension
One of the most important infrastructure developments in Birmingham Airport's modern history was the extension of its runway.
A 400-metre runway extension was completed and brought into operation in May 2014.
The project was significant because it allowed aircraft to carry larger payloads and operate longer-haul services.
The airport specifically identified destinations including:
- China
- Brazil
- South Africa
- The West Coast of the USA
as markets that became more accessible as a result of the longer runway.
The airport's master planning documents describe the runway extension as infrastructure allowing aircraft to fly further and carry heavier payloads, supporting the long-haul market important to the Midlands economy.
Birmingham Airport and China
The runway extension quickly demonstrated its purpose.
In July 2014, Birmingham Airport welcomed its first direct charter service from China to a UK airport outside London.
The service operated between Birmingham and Beijing.
The airport described it as a significant milestone in creating direct global connectivity from the Midlands.
Although this was a passenger service rather than a dedicated cargo route, it demonstrates how infrastructure investment changed the airport's long-haul capability.
How much air freight does Birmingham Airport handle?
The latest complete annual CAA data provides a useful picture of BHX's cargo operation.
During 2025, Birmingham Airport handled:
59,286 tonnes of freight
That represented a 10% increase compared with 2024, when the airport handled 53,745 tonnes.
The CAA figures show that Birmingham's cargo includes both freight carried on passenger aircraft and freight carried on dedicated cargo aircraft.
In 2025:
Passenger aircraft: 14,840 tonnes
Cargo aircraft: 44,445 tonnes
Total: 59,286 tonnes
That means approximately three-quarters of Birmingham's recorded freight tonnage in 2025 was carried on cargo aircraft rather than passenger aircraft.
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Birmingham Airport freight growth
The 2025 CAA figures also show that Birmingham's dedicated cargo operation grew substantially.
Cargo-aircraft freight increased from:
38,496 tonnes in 2024
to
44,445 tonnes in 2025
That's an increase of approximately 15%.
Total freight increased by around 10%.
So while BHX is best known by many people as a passenger airport, its freight operation represents a substantial part of its aviation activity.
What types of air freight use Birmingham Airport?
The appropriate cargo depends on the airline, freight operator, destination and handling requirements.
Commercial air freight can include:
- Engineering components
- Automotive parts
- Electronics
- Machinery
- Manufacturing products
- Pharmaceuticals
- Medical products
- Commercial samples
- High-value goods
- Time-sensitive shipments
- eCommerce cargo
Businesses in the West Midlands can potentially use BHX when the available freight service and routing match their requirements.
Birmingham Airport's Air Cargo Centre
Birmingham Airport has a dedicated Air Cargo Centre on the airport estate.
The airport's directions specifically identify the Air Cargo Centre and Gateway Estate from the A45 approach.
This is important for businesses arranging airport collections because cargo operations aren't necessarily accessed through the same routes as passengers using the main terminal.
For road transport operators, knowing the correct airport access point can be just as important as knowing the airport itself.
Road links to Birmingham Airport
One of BHX's biggest advantages for logistics is its road connectivity.
The airport is accessed directly from the M42 Junction 6, followed by the A45.
The airport also has strong connections to:
M42
The primary motorway connection to the airport.
M6
Providing north-south access through the Midlands and beyond.
A45
Connecting Birmingham Airport with Birmingham and Coventry.
M40
Providing access towards Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and London.
M5
Connecting the airport with Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and the South West.
This makes BHX particularly relevant to businesses throughout the West Midlands and surrounding regions.
Birmingham Airport and Coventry
Coventry is particularly well positioned in relation to Birmingham Airport.
The A45 provides a direct road connection between Coventry and the airport.
This makes BHX a potentially useful air-freight gateway for businesses operating in:
For businesses requiring regular airport collections, the road journey is an important part of the overall air-freight operation.
Birmingham Airport and the Golden Triangle
The airport also connects into the wider logistics Golden Triangle.
Businesses around:
- Coventry
- Rugby
- Warwick
- Nuneaton
- Leicester
- Northampton
- Daventry
- Lutterworth
can potentially use BHX alongside East Midlands Airport and Heathrow, depending on the international freight requirement.
This gives businesses in the Midlands several potential airport gateways rather than forcing every shipment through one location.
Birmingham Airport and the NEC
One of BHX's most recognisable neighbouring landmarks is the National Exhibition Centre (NEC).
The NEC sits immediately beside Birmingham Airport and forms part of a major business and events complex.
This creates an interesting logistics relationship.
International exhibitors can potentially move equipment, displays and commercial materials into the region through Birmingham Airport before transferring them to the NEC.
The airport, NEC, railway station and motorway network effectively form one major transport and business cluster.
Birmingham International railway station
Birmingham Airport is also connected directly to Birmingham International railway station via the Air-Rail Link.
The airport says its Air-Rail Link can transport up to 1,600 people per hour, with a journey time of approximately 90 seconds between the station and terminals.
Although primarily designed around passenger connectivity, the wider transport infrastructure demonstrates how unusual the airport's location is.
Within a short distance are:
Airport
Railway station
NEC
M42
A45
Business parks
This concentration of transport infrastructure is one of the reasons the area has become so important to the Midlands economy.
Shipping from Coventry, Warwickshire or the Midlands?
BHX can be an important international gateway for businesses across the region. WSUK can support the road logistics connecting your premises with the airport.
Air freight from Birmingham to the USA
For Midlands businesses exporting to the United States, BHX can provide an alternative UK gateway depending on the available routing.
A typical logistics chain could involve:
Midlands business
↓
Collection
↓
Road transport to BHX
↓
Cargo handling
↓
International flight
↓
USA
↓
Customs clearance
↓
Final delivery
The appropriate airport will depend on the specific shipment, airline, destination and freight-forwarding arrangement.
Air freight from Birmingham to China
China has already played an important part in Birmingham Airport's long-haul development.
The 2014 Beijing service demonstrated the airport's ability to provide direct long-haul connectivity between the Midlands and China.
For businesses importing or exporting between the UK and China, the airport can therefore form part of a wider international logistics strategy.
The exact routing should always be determined by the current freight service available for the shipment.
Birmingham Airport versus East Midlands Airport
Businesses in the Midlands may sometimes have a choice between BHX and EMA.
They aren't identical airports.
East Midlands Airport has a particularly strong dedicated cargo and express-freight profile, with more than 400,000 tonnes of cargo handled in 2025/26.
Birmingham Airport handled 59,286 tonnes in 2025, with more than 44,000 tonnes carried on dedicated cargo aircraft.
The best airport therefore depends on:
- Destination
- Airline
- Freight forwarder
- Cargo type
- Available flight
- Collection location
- Delivery requirement
- Transit time
- Overall logistics cost
The closest airport isn't necessarily the best airport for every shipment.
Why road transport is important to Birmingham air freight
The aircraft is only one part of an international freight journey.
A shipment may begin in Coventry, Rugby, Warwick or Leicester.
It then needs to reach the airport at the correct time.
The journey can be:
Warehouse
→ Collection
→ Road transport
→ Air Cargo Centre
→ Aircraft
→ International destination
If the road collection is late, the cargo may miss its required handling window.
That makes reliable airport transport a critical part of the overall air-freight service.
Birmingham Airport in 2026
Birmingham Airport continues to invest in its infrastructure.
Its history includes:
1939 — Airport opens
1946 — Civil aviation resumes
1961 — International Building opens
1967–1970 — Main runway extended
1984 — Current terminal opens
2003 — Air-Rail Link opens
2009 — £45m International Pier opens
2014 — 400m runway extension becomes operational
The airport's longer-term master planning continues to focus on capacity and infrastructure development.
Birmingham Airport has also announced a £300 million investment programme, with work focused on infrastructure and future growth.
Air Freight from Birmingham Airport with WSUK
For businesses using Birmingham Airport for air freight, the airport is only one part of the supply chain.
Cargo still needs to be collected from the warehouse, manufacturer, distributor or business premises and delivered to the appropriate cargo facility.
WSUK supports businesses across the Midlands with logistics services including:
- Air-freight collections and deliveries
- Warehouse storage
- Pallet storage
- Fulfilment
- Transport
- Distribution
- Contract logistics
- Same-day logistics
For businesses around Coventry, Warwickshire, Birmingham and the wider Golden Triangle, Birmingham Airport provides an important international gateway.
If your business requires regular collections or deliveries connected with BHX, WSUK can support the road logistics around your wider freight operation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the airport code for Birmingham Airport?
The IATA airport code for Birmingham Airport is BHX.
When did Birmingham Airport open?
Birmingham Airport officially opened on 8 July 1939 as Elmdon Airport. Civil flying resumed on 8 July 1946 after the airport had been requisitioned during the Second World War.
How much freight does Birmingham Airport handle?
CAA figures show Birmingham handled 59,286 tonnes of freight in 2025, including 44,445 tonnes carried on cargo aircraft.
Did Birmingham Airport's runway get extended?
Yes. A 400-metre runway extension was completed and became operational in May 2014, improving the airport's long-haul capability.
What roads connect Birmingham Airport?
The main road access is from M42 Junction 6 via the A45, with connections to the M6, M40 and wider Midlands motorway network.
Is Birmingham Airport suitable for air freight?
Yes. Birmingham handled almost 60,000 tonnes of freight in 2025, including more than 44,000 tonnes carried on dedicated cargo aircraft.
Is Birmingham Airport close to Coventry?
Yes. BHX is connected to Coventry via the A45, making it a potentially useful airport gateway for businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire.
Can WSUK collect cargo for Birmingham Airport?
WSUK supports businesses with road logistics surrounding air-freight movements, including collections and deliveries connected with major UK airports.