Newcastle Airport’s £17 Million Runway Revamp Begins
Newcastle International Airport will soon embark on a major £17 million runway resurfacing project, ‘future-proofing’ vital infrastructure with no planned flight disruptions.
Set to begin on 4 November and continue through March 2025, the work will involve resurfacing an area equivalent to 22 football pitches and upgrading 1,267 runway lights to energy-efficient LEDs, reducing carbon emissions by 87 tonnes annually.
The night-time project, supported by a team of up to 120 workers, marks a key step towards the airport’s 2035 net-zero target.
Nick Jones, chief executive at the airport, said: “The £17 million project to resurface the runway will mark a significant milestone in the airport’s history.
“This investment will not only extend the overall lifespan of the runway and ensure we continue to provide vital connectivity for the North East region, but it will also support the airport’s future growth and our long-term sustainability goals.
“The project has been carefully planned and we have worked closely with our airlines, local councils and business partners to ensure the airport will continue to operate as normal.”
Chris Wright, contracting director for construction company Tarmac, who is leading the project, added: “Having worked in partnership with the airport’s teams for many years we recognise the importance of this significant investment programme and are fully committed to working collaboratively to achieve the programme’s goals.
“Much attention has been placed on the detailed work schedule designed to optimise the efficiency of the delivery programme.”
Additionally, £3 million will be invested in upgrading the airport’s departure lounge and retail areas this winter, further enhancing the passenger experience.
The investment comes after the airport recently made history by becoming the first UK airport to be recognised as the ‘Best in the World’ at the Routes World Conference, while also retaining the global ‘Best Airport’ accolade in the 0-5 million passengers category for the second year running.