Senior travel trade executive Stefanie Bowes said the arrival of new airlines including Qatar Airways, Norwegian, Vueling and Iberia meant more exhibitors at the event.

The airport is now confident that the event, which is scheduled for early September in a venue close to the airport, will attract more than double the 130 agents who attended in 2015.

Bowes said: “It is great for the agents as they get to learn about the airport product. Some airlines don’t go out to independent agents for training and the little ones get left out and the homeworkers too.”

During the evening agents will be able to tour the room to find out more about each airline and where they fly to, while competition prizes, food and refreshments will all feature.

Bowes added: “Knowledge is more important with dynamic packaging. Customers need to put a lot more trust in the agent so they need to be really hot on the knowledge.”

Travel trade executive Shellie Harris added: “Customers ask all sorts of questions about airports and airlines, and if you don’t know everything they lose trust in you. It’s important people know about the airlines.”

The arrangements for the event are being finalised as Birmingham airport celebrates breaking the million-passenger mark for the first time in May.

A total of 1,005,861 people travelled through the airport, an 11.1% increase year-on-year.

The rise was driven by long-haul passengers with growth of 16.5%, compared to a 10.5% increase in short haul.

Aviation development director William Pearson said: “The more exotic destinations are being covered by airlines like Emirates, Qatar and Turkish Airlines, all of whom have expanded services.”

He added he was confident a new service to Beijing will be launched in 2017 following the loss of the route earlier this year.