Passenger numbers at Birmingham Airport topped 11m last year for the first time in its 78-year history. Airlines including Emirates, Flybe, Monarch and Ryanair fly to 150 global destinations, from Dublin to Dubai (its two most popular routes). More than half its income comes from commercial activities such as duty-free, car parking, catering and property rental. Chairman Tim Clarke, 60, is leading the group’s search for a chief executive after Paul Kehoe, 58, stepped down in July.