MORE than half-a-million Worcestershire travellers have helped Birmingham International Airport (BIA) achieve record passenger numbers.

Figures released today show the airport - which the Government has earmarked for a new runway in its Aviation White Paper - saw nine million people pass through its two terminals in 2003 - an increase of 13 per cent on 2002.

Despite 9/11 and the continued threat of terrorism, BIA continues to increase passenger numbers, as well as adding new routes, more planes and partnering with new airlines.

But the fifth largest airport in the UK is widening its net and sees regional areas, such as Worcestershire, as a prime target market.

The private limited company - the airport is owned by shareholders including the seven West Midlands local authorities - has identified a potential 28 million passengers living within a two-hour drive of the airport.

Managing director Richard Heard, who announced the figures, said yesterday: "We are close to the M42 and other motorways which is a very important fact in terms of capturing passengers. There are more than 28 million people living within a two hour drive of BIA.

"But we're very much pushing rail access this year - the long-range target is to have 25 per cent of all passengers arrive by public transport - and are working with rail and coach companies in areas such as Worcestershire, as well as with the Strategic Rail Authority."

Last year, a £7m public transport interchange opened at Birmingham International rail station, to make it easier for passengers travelling to the airport by train. A SkyRail 'people mover' system was also installed, at a cost of £11m, as part of a 10-year, £260m development programme, which began in 1997.

The investment - which has also included additional check-in areas - is to cope with the forecast 10 million passengers by 2005.

A new runway is needed because the total current capacity of the airport is about 12 million passengers, and in the past nine years alone, passenger numbers have doubled.

Growth is predicted to come from existing carriers increasing their passenger numbers and also from new carriers, such as Emirates, which is already increasing its number of flights.

Airlines are also moving towards bigger planes - meaning more passengers - and they are filling their planes up more with their "excellent deals", according to Mr Heard.

He acknowledges, however, there is a lot of hard work ahead.

"Expansion or a runway - that's the first thing to decide. At peak times now we can't get any more planes on the runway.

"It may be the end of the consultation process but it's the start of a lot of hard work for us - to show how we can bring that to fruition.

"We have 12 months to do this. Once the master plan is formulated we have to then go through the public consultation.

"But we have adopted an incremental approach, building in phases - we're not going to build a white elephant and wait for passengers."