East Midlands Airport to refurbish full runway over weekends (nothing more ever heard of about the 2009 plans for a runway extension)

East Midlands Airport has announced that it will undertake a full length runway refurbishment project from 5th November till 19th December 2016. Therefore the airport will be closed to all traffic for 48 hours (8pm Saturday to 8pm Monday) each weekend, on 7 consecutive weekends.  The airport hopes this will cause the least disruption to its airlines, and not affect the imports for Christmas.  The timing avoids the busy summer holiday season when the airport makes a lot of money out the low cost leisure travel. The plan is for around 360 workers (Galliford Try is the principle contractor) every weekend laying 50,000 tonnes of specially formulated material across 150,000 square metres of runway etc n total.  While the runway is closed, the airport is also replacing over 1,200 lights on and around the area with LED lighting, which uses less electricity than the previous lighting, cutting airport energy costs.  East Midlands’ runway was last refurbished in 1999, and has a natural lifespan of around 12-17 years. They are all hoping the work will be done on time and within the weekend periods. The airport hoped, in its forecasts around 2005, to have 4 times as much freight in 2016 as it had in 2004. The level has actually risen by just a few %. They also then hoped for a doubling of flights and passengers. The number of flights has barely risen and the number of passengers has slightly fallen. So much for forecasts.
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East Midlands Airport announces first UK runway refurbishment project

18 August 2016

By Roy Manuell  (International Airport Review)

East Midlands Airport has today announced that it will undertake a full length runway refurbishment project during November and December 2016.

The refurbishment will be completed over seven consecutive weekends, a UK first for an airport runway refurbishment project, meaning that the airport will be closed to all traffic for 48 hours each weekend. The closures will begin at 20:00 on each Saturday and end at 20:00 on each Monday, except the final weekend, which will end at 13:00.

Andy Cliffe Managing Director East Midlands Airport said: “After an in-depth consultation with our airlines and cargo operators, we came to the decision that completing the project in this way was the best way to avoid major disruption in the lead up to Christmas. The timing for us is crucial and we had to look to do this in the winter season, when we naturally aren’t as busy.”

Beginning on 5th November 2016 and concluding on 19th December 2016, the project will see around 360 workers every weekend laying 50,000 tonnes of specially formulated material across 150,000m2 in total.

Whilst the runway is not operational, the airport is also replacing over 1,200 lights on and around the area with LED lighting, which is more environmentally friendly.

The airport’s runway was last refurbished in 1999, and has a natural lifespan of around 12-17 years. Galliford Try is the principle contractor and has worked together with the management and operations team at the airport to ensure that the airport’s operation has minimal disruption.

Galliford Try is a leading construction company carrying out building and infrastructure works across the UK including a variety of civils and building schemes for Manchester, East Midlands, Stansted and Bournemouth Airports, all part of the Manchester Airports Group. The company also works in the rail, environmental, highways, water and waste sectors.

Colin Abbott, Aviation Director for Galliford Try said: “We are delighted to be working with the East Midlands Airport team on the refurbishment of their Runway. Logistics make this an exceptionally challenging project and due to the hard work of all involved scoping out every possible scenario, we have every confidence that the scheme will be delivered safely and on time.”

Andy Cliffe continued: “We’re delighted to be working with Galliford Try; they are a leading construction company and have a great deal of experience in managing a large scale project like this.

“We are very much looking forward to seeing the work taking place in this exceptional way and then seeing the finished product in December.”

http://www.internationalairportreview.com/24309/airport-news/east-midlands-runway-project/ 

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The number of air passengers at East Midlands airport in recent years:

2015    4,446,000   down – 1% on 2014

2014   4,506,457   up + 4.1% on 2013
2013  4,328,229 up + 6.4% on 2012

2012    4,067,915  (down – 3.3% on 2011)
2011    4,208,000 (up + 2% on 2010)
2010    4,111,000  (down – 12% on 2009)  link to 2010 data
2009    4,653,017   (down – 17.2% on 2008)
2008    5,616 (up 4% on 2007)
2007    5,407 (up 15%)

The number of ATMs (air transport movements = commercial flights) at East Midlands airport in recent years: 

2015    56,378   down – 1.4% on 2014
2014   57,217   up + 0.3% on 2013
2013    57,204 up + 4.7% on 2012
2012    54,643  (up + 0.4% on 2011)
2011    54,000  (up 4% on 2010)
2010    52,000 (down -9% on 2009)   link to 2010 data
2009    57,528  (down – 13% on 2008)
2008    66 thousand (up 8% on 2007)
2007    61 thousand  (up 9%)
2006    56 thousand
2005    54 thousand
The airport forecast that the number of  ATMs would double by 2016 from their 2004 level of 57,400. They have actually remained at the same level approximately. Hence no need for a ruwnay extension.)


Back in 2009 there were plans for a runway extension – which never happened

 

East Midlands runway extension plans approved

 3rd November 2009
 The runway at East Midlands Airport will be extended by 190 metres after councillors approved plans. Officers at North West Leicestershire Council have said there are no grounds for blocking the development. The aim is to allow heavier planes to take off and make the UK’s 3rd-biggest freight airport more attractive to long-haul cargo carriers, especially across the Atlantic. Opponents know it will lead to more noise, especially at night, and more air pollution.
Click here to view full story…

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