Toby Neal talks the 1960s and the birth of budget air travel in the West Midlands
Come fly with me... The dawn of cheap air travel in the 1960s saw the iconic terminal building at Birmingham airport become familiar to generations of Midlands holidaymakers.
Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
They would eat at the Skyways restaurant, and stand on the balcony watching flights come and go.
But it's been 40 years since the distinctive 1930s building was last used by the general flying public. Unable to cope with soaring passenger numbers, it was replaced by a new terminal built the other side of the runway in 1984.
Despite its place in aviation history it did not enjoy any special protection. This was to prevent it hindering future development and expansion of the airport.
So, after being vacated following a flood in early 2018 caused by a frozen boiler, there were real fears that this Art Deco-style gem would be lost, and a campaign was launched to save it.
It bore fruit, as in August 2018 Historic England gave the Elmdon terminal building Grade Two listed status, describing it as a striking design and statement piece of 1930s architecture, and citing "the playful yet functional reference of air travel in the design, notably the 'wings' to either side of the building.
