Isle of Man airport authorities are hopeful that formal approval for a runway extension at the island”s premier airport can be secured by 14 February.
The current site at Ronaldsway on the south of the island can take payload-restricted aircraft up to Boeing 757s, but with expected new recommendations from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) due to become mandatory, a 250m (820ft) extension to the 1,754m runway is being sought.
”I am going to ask the [Isle of Man] government to release ”40m ($78m) for a runway extension,” said airport director Ann Reynolds, ”which [approval] is hoped to be by 14 February.
”This is a safety-based project which will increase the runway by 250m out to sea.”
Subject to the government go-ahead, the project will involve altering the coastline slightly and constructing a platform out to sea by infilling the area with rocks. CAA requirements for runway end safety areas (RESA) show that Ronaldsway currently meets regulations, but it does not comply with recommendations that will eventually become compulsory.
And the low-cost boom in air travel has also reached the Isle of Man, with Flybe and Manx2.com among others, starting to view the island as an area of strong growth with its significant disposable income due to a low-tax status and a thriving financial community.
Manx2 in particular is enjoying stellar growth with a 75% increase in seats sold just last week compared with 2007. ”We are enjoying our best period to date with sales to Gloucester and Belfast showing particularly strong growth,” said communications director James Filleul.
These airlines currently operate propeller aircraft to Ronaldsway, but the airport wants to attract operators wishing to use machines such as the Embraer 195 and needs the extra runway length for that to be considered viable.
During the same period that the pavement lengthening is being carried out, the airport will use the time to resurface the runway, while permission is also being sought to construct a brand new ”6m ($11.7) control tower by the end of next year.
Air links are continuously being extended from the island and are starting to compete on price with existing ferry services to the mainland. Flybe will shortly start operating to Luton following Aer Arann”s decision to drop the service to the UK capital, while London City remains a key destination for the financial communities of Douglas and the Square Mile.
Reynolds also made a plea for direct international services: ”I would like to see Amsterdam as an international hub,” she said, adding: ”and we could look at how we might support the link, perhaps under a Public Service Obligation.”