Birmingham Airport celebrates 95-year anniversary

Alabama’s largest and busiest airport is turning 95 this month. Since opening May 31, 1931, with its first American Airways flight, Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) has grown from a small mail-and-passenger hub into an economic engine serving nearly 3.3 million people annually.

A legacy of growth

From the establishment of the Birmingham Airport Authority in 1986 to the 2008 renaming in honor of civil rights legend Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, the airport has stayed rooted in the community while modernizing for the future.

“When you look at the tremendous change that has taken place over the years, it’s impossible not to be floored by where we sit today.”

Ashby Pate, Chair of the Birmingham Airport Authority Board

What’s next for BHM

The celebration comes at a time of significant growth. Kim Hunt, VP of Communications for the Birmingham Airport Authority, says the airport is constantly working behind the scenes to expand options.

• New service: Breeze Airways begins nonstop, low-cost flights to Fort Lauderdale and Raleigh-Durham on July 3.
• Expansion: BHM currently offers nonstop service to 22 destinations across 19 cities.
• Upgrades: Ongoing projects include modernized parking, renovated restrooms + increased flight capacity on existing routes.

Celebrate Birmingham’s airport!

Throughout May, BHM is thanking passengers with a month-long party in the terminal. If you’re traveling on a Friday, look out for:

• Giveaways + airline gift cards
• Live music + travel games
• A 95th-anniversary selfie station + snacks

“We pride ourselves on the fact that it’s a really hassle-free experience….

“We want customers to know, not only that we’ve been here this long, but we also want to hear from them.”

Kim Hunt, VP of Communications for the Birmingham Airport Authority

In the terminal, there is a board for travelers to write why they choose to fly BHM. Some of the reasons, which range from sentimental to silly, include:

• “Fast check-in with TSA”
• “Amazing staff!”
• “Because it’s not Atlanta airport”
• “Easy in, easy out!”
• “Close to UA! RTR!”
• “Military and personal travel. Great service!”
• “Close. Convenient. Efficient.”

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