Arriving with a bounce is the first visit of Concorde
Most of the scheduled services were still being flown by the Viscount with both British Midland and British Airways , and with  other airlines like Alidair Scotland as pictured right.
But, as the seventies progressed, so did aircraft with the introduction of the 1-11s with British Airways in 1974. Three of these aircraft were based at Birmingham.
Though the scheduled services were increasing each year
it was the holiday charter traffic in the summer months which really took off and, at times, the airport terminal buildings at weekends were bursting at the seams even with various extensions taking place!
Obviously the time had come to look at alternatives to ease the pressure on the now overcrowded airport.  Plans were drawn up for a new terminal complex on the other side of the airport in 1973 but it was to be many more years before the final go ahead was given.