Flying at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, FAA identifier BHM, is Alabama's largest and busiest airport and the primary commercial aviation gateway for the state's most populous metropolitan area. Named in honor of the Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth — the Birmingham civil rights leader who fearlessly challenged racial segregation alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — BHM serves over 4 million passengers annually and connects Birmingham to dozens of destinations through major airline hubs. The airport is designated a commercial service airport in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) and receives FAA Airport Improvement Program funding administered through the Alabama Department of Transportation Aeronautics Bureau.
BHM operates a control tower, multiple air carrier gates, TSA security screening, two full-service FBOs catering to general aviation, and comprehensive pilot services. Airlines serving BHM include American, Delta, United, Southwest, and others providing connections to Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Charlotte, Chicago, Houston, and other major hubs. The airport's Class B airspace extends over the greater Birmingham area and requires all VFR pilots to obtain ATC clearance before entering. GA pilots use the dedicated FBO ramps separate from the airline terminal, with Avgas (100LL) and Jet-A fuel readily available from multiple suppliers.
Who is Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport named after?
BHM is named for Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth (1922–2011), a Birmingham civil rights leader and co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Shuttlesworth organized resistance to segregation in Birmingham during the 1950s and 1960s despite violent opposition, making him one of the most courageous figures in Civil Rights history. The airport was renamed in his honor in 2008.
Which airlines serve BHM?
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is served by American, Delta, United, Southwest, and Spirit airlines, among others. Nonstop service is available to Atlanta (ATL), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Charlotte (CLT), Chicago (ORD), Houston (IAH), and multiple other destinations, with connecting service reaching virtually any city in the U.S.
What FBO services are at BHM?
BHM has multiple FBO operators providing Avgas (100LL) and Jet-A fuel, aircraft parking and hangars, rental cars, crew cars, pilot lounges, and comprehensive GA services for light single-engine aircraft through large business jets and air cargo operations.
How do GA pilots navigate BHM's Class B airspace?
Pilots must obtain an ATC clearance before entering BHM's Class B airspace. Contact Birmingham Approach Control on the published frequency before entering the Class B boundary. Flight following from outlying areas is available from Memphis Center and Birmingham Approach to assist pilots transitioning through the Birmingham area's complex airspace structure.
Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport - BHM Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Birmingham, Alabama.
| Name | Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport - BHM |
| Address | 5900 Messer Airport Highway, Birmingham AL 35212 Map |
| Phone | (205) 595-0533 |
| Website | |
| Hours |
Map of Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport - BHM
Airports near Birmingham
Planning Your Trip to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is the hub of Alabama's commercial aviation system, connecting the state's largest metropolitan area — home to over 1.1 million people in the greater metro — to the national and international air transportation network. Birmingham's economy spans healthcare (anchored by UAB Medicine), finance, legal services, technology, and manufacturing, creating diverse commercial aviation demand from business travelers, healthcare professionals, and leisure passengers. The airport's location in north-central Jefferson County provides convenient surface access from downtown Birmingham in approximately 15 minutes.
Birmingham's ring of GA airports — including Bessemer Airport to the southwest, Turkey Creek Airport to the northeast, and Shelby County Airport (EET) to the south — gives general aviation pilots in the metro area options for avoiding BHM's Class B airspace and higher landing fees. For commercial travel, BHM is the clear choice, with parking, ground transportation, and terminal services that make it Alabama's most passenger-friendly airport. The Alabama Department of Transportation Aeronautics Bureau administers federal AIP funding for BHM as Alabama's primary commercial service airport, supporting continuous terminal improvements and infrastructure investment that keep Birmingham-Shuttlesworth competitive with peer-city airports across the southeastern United States.