Birmingham Airport. Photo: Shutterstock Passengers traveling through Birmingham Airport on Friday, August 7, 2026, are being advised to allow extra time for their journey after a baggage system issue at the airport coincided with major traffic disruption on the nearby M6 motorway.
In an afternoon update, the airport confirmed it is experiencing a technical issue with its baggage handling system, affecting some outbound luggage.
Engineers are on site working to resolve the problem, while terminal staff are processing baggage as quickly as possible to minimize disruption.
Despite the issue, Birmingham Airport is advising passengers to continue arriving at the airport in line with their airline's guidance, while warning that some travelers may experience delays with checked baggage.
The airport also urged passengers to factor in additional travel time due to ongoing congestion on the M6.
Earlier in the day, traffic was brought to a standstill on the northbound M6 between Junction 4 near Birmingham Airport and Junction 6 (Birmingham) after a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) caught fire. Emergency crews from West Midlands Fire Service responded to the incident, with delays reaching up to 90 minutes and queues stretching around nine miles.
According to the latest traffic update, lanes 1 and 2 of four remain closed between Junction 4A (M42 interchange) and Junction 5 (Sutton Coldfield) due to damage caused by the fire. Lane 3 has since reopened, reducing delays to around 20 minutes, although approximately two miles of congestion remain.
Birmingham Airport has shared the highway updates with passengers and is encouraging anyone traveling to or from the airport to check traffic conditions and allow extra time before setting off.