Planning & Development

The Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International airport (BHM) has published a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed Taxiway A Relocation project. The EA is required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and includes an evaluation of the environmental, economic, and social impacts of the proposed development.

For those who are interested, please see additional information about the Taxiway A Relocation project and the Draft Environmental Assessment and our Notice of Taxiway A Relocation Draft Environmental Assessment Availability & Public Meeting.

As Alabama’s largest airport, the facilities at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) continue to grow and expand. In order to strengthen the marketability of our airport and the Birmingham Region, we strive to maintain a first-class facility and that will continue to enhance our community as a great place to live, work and do business. BHM takes an aggressive approach to securing Airport Improvement Project (AIP) grants to continually improve the infrastructure on the airfield and to maintain it in a way that meets and exceeds federal regulations and creates a safe and secure environment for all operations.

Several projects are underway, including the following:

Terminal Building Upgrades

BHM is constantly working to improve the customer experience at the airport. In recent years, improvements to the terminal building have been at the top of the list. Passengers can now enjoy all new gate area seating which includes in-seat charging stations, expanded WiFi network coverage throughout the terminal campus, and ongoing modernization of the parking deck elevator network. In early 2026, the airport began a complete overhaul of the restrooms in the concourse. Once the concourse restrooms are completed, the restrooms on the public side will be modernized.

New Air Cargo Facility

Freight transported by air often include valuable and critical items to support local commerce and consumers. The ease of air cargo accessibility is key to the growth of the region. A new 53,500 square foot air cargo building was completed in 2024. The goal of this new facility is to provide adequate space to enable further air cargo operations by existing and prospective carriers at BHM. In doing so, this will allow the creation of new jobs and economic opportunity for the Birmingham region.

Airfield Infrastructure

Runways, taxiways, and parking aprons are vital pieces of infrastructure at the airport. The Birmingham Airport Authority carries out an aggressive and ongoing series of improvements to maintain the safe and efficient operation of the airfield. The integrity of these pavements and associated safety areas are essential to keep the region moving forward. BHM has recently completed rehabilitation and maintenance projects on Runway 6/24, the taxiway system and aircraft parking aprons, including the terminal area. Up to ninety (90) percent of these project costs are funded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Master Plan

The Airport Master Plan is the primary document used at the airport for long-range planning. It provides a framework needed to guide future development that will cost-effectively satisfy aviation demand while considering potential environmental and socio-economic impacts.

Final Approval

The Airport Master Plan and Airport Layout Plan documents were completed, and final approval from the Board of Directors was received in the third quarter of 2018.

Public Outreach

Public outreach is an integral and required element of any Master Plan formulation process. Several stakeholder meetings were held to provide members of the community an opportunity to give feedback and engage in discussions throughout various times of the project.

The Community

It is a priority for the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport to be a good corporate citizen through social, financial, ethical, legal, and economic responsibilities.

Together with the community, we will chart a course for a bright future.