Business Traveller Middle East — October-November 2017

Spotlight on... Birmingham I 39

EMIRATES ADDS SECOND A380
It’s not just the trams, trains and proximity to key
motorway networks where Birmingham scores highly
in the transport stakes.
Birmingham International Airport continues to
grow rapidly (it handled 10.2 million passengers in
2015) and bolster its international connectivity with
Emirates adding a second daily A380 service from
Dubai from October 29 (replacing EK39/40, a B777
service). Since the first A380 service was launched on
March 27 2016, more than 300,000 passengers have
flown on the aircraft between the two cities. Both
services are operated by two-class A380s, with 58
business class and 557 economy class seats.
Nordic carrier Primera Air plans to launch
transatlantic routes from Birmingham (as well as
Stansted and Paris CDG) next year. The airline will
offer daily flights to New York Newark from all three
bases starting next April, as well as four flights per
week to Boston.

Reconciling demand with capacity is an ongoing

challenge, however. On successive trips over the

summer, the ‘snaking queues’ were expanded before

security, adding to delays, and the subsequent

three-lane queue to the machines, after the boarding

pass scan, was funnelled into single file. Departing

passengers should factor in additional time.

TRANQUIL RETREAT

Within minutes, we’ve swapped Broad Street’s

traffic for beautiful tree-lined avenues as we head

into the heart of University territory and visit the

Edwardian Winterbourne House and Garden. This

seven-acre oasis contains an astonishing 6,000 plant

species – and there can’t be many major cities which

boast such a pocket of verdant tranquillity. Take a

leisurely afternoon tea on the terrace while admiring

panoramic views and enjoying generously filled

sandwiches and cakes on the stand.

winterbourne.org.uk

SIKH MIGRATION IN FOCUS

The Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is

exhibiting My Story, Our Journey: Sikh Migration

into Birmingham and the Black Country until October

22. Birmingham Museums Trust houses a wide
    range of Pre-Raphaelite art and The Ancient Egypt
    Gallery features artefacts spanning 3,000 years.
    birminghammuseums.org.uk

REGUS TARGETS REMOTE WORKERS

Regus has announced plans for two new UK centres,

located in the Birmingham suburb of Rubery and the

Buckinghamshire town of Aylesbury. The new 12,650

square foot Birmingham facility, situated within the

Longbridge regeneration scheme, is scheduled to

open later this year. The centre will feature over 160

workstations, as well as 75 offices, and meeting /

virtual office facilities.

Watch Canals, Curries and Connectivity

on youtube.com n

Clockwise

from above:

Birmingham

Museum &

Art Gallery;

Winterbourne

House & Garden;

Emirates A380;

typewriter in

Jewellery Quarter

Museum.