East Midlands Airport to close on seven weekends

East Midlands Airport will be closed on seven consecutive weekends during November and December in a huge resurfacing project.
(Photo shoot 0511-035) Stock photography for website. East Midlands Airport - departures.(Photo shoot 0511-035) Stock photography for website. East Midlands Airport - departures.
(Photo shoot 0511-035) Stock photography for website. East Midlands Airport - departures.

Workmen will lay new tarmac down on the airport’s main runway between November 5 and December 19.

The work means no flights will operate for 48 hours each weekend until the work is completed.

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Operators using the site include Thomas Cook, FlyBe, BMI Regional, Ryanair, and Thomson.

The closures will begin at 8pm on each Saturday and end at 8pm on each Monday, except the final weekend, which will end at 1pm.

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.

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Whilst the runway is not operational, the airport is also replacing over 1200 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.