Regional UK airport set to get new flights to US destination – the first time in nearly a decade
AN airport in the UK could get a new flight route to America in more than eight years.
Birmingham Airport is currently undergoing a £300million renovation.
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And a new flight route could connect the regional airport to a US destination.
Delta's airline chief executive told the Sunday Times: "There's a great market out of Birmingham."
Delta is currently the official airline partner of Birmingham City Football Club.
Birmingham Airport had flights to New York with United Airlines last in 2017.
While Delta hasn't suggested which destination it could fly to from Birmingham, it is likely to be New York again.
This was backed by the airport CEO Nick Barton who said there was "a reasonable degree of optimism" for the route relaunch.
The only other US flight route that Birmingham currently operates is to Orlando with TUI.
And it's not the only long-haul flight the airport has suggested it could relaunch.
Previously flying to Hong Kong until 1988 (which were suspended after the closure of Kai Tak Airport) this could be another flight route.
Even flights to India such as Mumbai have been suggested as potential destinations.
Jet2 launches six new flights from major UK airport
This would be in addition to the current Birmingham-Delhi flights.
Other current long-haul flights from Birmingham include Cancun, Barbados and Jamaica, as well as Dubai.
And new recent flight routes include to Gibraltar with easyJet and Budapest with TUI Airways,
And part of Birmingham Airport's multi-million pound upgrades including new CT scanners which will allow passengers to keep liquids in their hand luggage.
While they still need to be under 100ml, there is now no limit on how many can be taken.
The website also asked passengers to leave them outside of the standard plastic bag.
It states: "There is no limit on the amount of under 100mls containers that can be carried.
"Do not put your liquids, pastes and gels into plastic bags (please leave them loose in hand luggage)."
Other upgrades to the airport also include two new security lanes.
Here are the 15 busiest airports in the UK by passenger numbers in 2023
London Heathrow - 79.2 million
London Gatwick - 40.9 million
Manchester - 28.1 million
London Stansted - 28.0 million
London Luton - 16.4 million
Edinburgh - 14.4 million
Birmingham - 11.5 million
Bristol - 9.9 million
Glasgow - 7.4 million
Belfast International - 6.0 million
Newcastle - 4.8 million
Liverpool - 4.2 million
Leeds Bradford - 4.0 million
East Midlands - 3.9 million
London City - 3.4 million
The airport currently serves 12million passengers a year to 144 destinations.
The renovation s will be able to welcome capacity up to 18million, expected by 2033.
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