A NEW report into Birmingham Airport says that given sufficient backing it could deliver millions of pounds in growth and thousands of jobs to the region and UK as a whole.

However, this is reliant on the West Midlands being able to make the most of HS2, a reform of air passenger duty and the continued growth of new air routes.

The report by York Aviation titled "The West Midlands aviation opportunity" highlights the economic impact and potential of Birmingham Airport and has been launched six weeks after the region released its HS2 Growth Strategy.

Its findings include a complete cut of air passenger duty would result in the airport serving 2.9 million more passenger by 2025, if there was a 15 per cent increase in east-west road and rail investment an additional 750,000 passengers could be attracted to the terminus and having a Middle Eastern or Asian airline hub at Birmingham Airport would bring in an extra £173m to the West Midlands.

The report said Birmingham Airport contributed £1.7b and 39,850 jobs to the UK in 2014. Across the West Midlands, its contribution was around £1.1 billion and 25,300 jobs.

Paul Kehoe, the airport's chief executive, said: "This report clearly demonstrates the vast potential of Birmingham Airport as an economic driver, not only to the West Midlands, but to the UK as a whole. The impact of the airport is in the same bracket as the positive impact HS2 will have on our region and, as a region, we need to do everything we can to make as many of these scenarios become a reality.”

Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, added: “Birmingham Airport is a vital cog in driving the Midlands engine for growth, providing the connectivity that our thriving businesses need to trade, export and secure investment. The central message of this report is that, to build on this success, our region must work hand in hand with central government to grasp new global opportunities for the country. Now is the time to work together to make the most of HS2, reform air passenger duty and support the continued growth of new routes to destinations around the world, to plug our region into new markets and enable us to play our full part in rebalancing the economy.”