Single bus 17A links Birmingham Airport to Solihull and Coventry
Bus 17A runs from Birmingham Airport’s Terminal 1 stop directly to Solihull and Coventry, with services typically running every 30 minutes during the day. The stop sits outside the terminal near the main arrivals exit, so you walk out, turn left, and you’re at the bays in under 3 minutes. Look for the 17A number on the front and side of the bus before you get on.
A standard single on 17A usually costs only a few pounds, far cheaper than a taxi that can push £25–£35 into Coventry. You pay the driver on board using cash or contactless card; tap-in is at the front next to the cab. Keep a rough idea of your destination stop name ready, as the driver can confirm if 17A actually serves it before you pay.
From the airport, 17A reaches Solihull town centre in around 25–30 minutes and Coventry city centre in roughly 45–55 minutes, depending on traffic on the A45. This is solid if you land in off-peak hours and don’t mind sitting with your bag for a bit. In the evening, factor in extra time around 17:00–18:30 as the A45 tends to clog toward Birmingham and Coventry.
The first 17A typically shows up not long after 06:00 and last departures toward Coventry tend to be around 23:00, but times shift by day of week and season. Always check the current timetable for your exact date, especially for Sunday or bank holiday flights when frequencies can stretch beyond 30 minutes. If you land after 23:00, have a backup like a pre-booked minicab number saved.
Airport buses, including 17A, depart from signed stands outside Terminal 1, grouped with other local routes like X1 and X12. Electronic displays at the bays show the next few departures with destinations like “Solihull” or “Coventry” in large text. If the board shows a delay of more than 20 minutes, walk back inside arrivals and check ride-hail or train via Birmingham International as a plan B.
Tip: screenshot the 17A timetable and route map over Wi‑Fi in the terminal before you step out, so you’re not hunting for data by the bus bays in the rain.