Belfast City Airport applies for runway extension
14.11.08
Belfast City Airport has submitted a planning application to extend its runway. If granted, it would extend the runway by 590 metres in the direction of Belfast Lough, allowing planes to fly further, to new destinations in Europe and the Mediterranean. It would not involve an increase in flights or a change in the opening hours.
Airport managing director Brian Ambrose said: ‘A longer runway will allow a longer take-off and landing distance that will allow aircraft to carry full fuel loads and maximum passenger numbers, which at present is not possible.'
‘We have made no secret of our ambitions to fly to a select number of European destinations, which, if the runway is extended, will undoubtedly improve customer choice and value. We would like to make it clear that we have no intention of introducing 'wide-bodied' aircraft to our airport. Thus the size of the aircraft currently using the airport will not increase.’
However, Belfast City Airport Watch (BCAW) said the runway extension would be an ‘irreversible nightmare’ for east and south Belfast. A spokesman said: ‘The runway extension will enable airlines to fly aircraft with heavier fuel loads - that means jets will be noisier and will fly lower. Whatever assurances the airport may provide, the fact remains that there's nothing to stop airlines using big jets on all 48,000 of its permitted annual flights. And there's nothing to stop a large proportion of those aircraft flying over people's homes.’
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