Alderney runway extension

The Channel Island of Alderney is to get a major rebuild of its airport runway.  The current asphalt strip is only 877m long which severely restricts aircraft types, and is susceptible to weather problems.  Two sinkholes forced its closure in October.

Alderney is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey which has now backed a plan for an extension to 1050m, about the same as London City Airport (LCY) when it first opened, and will allow operations by ATR and De Havilland Canada turboprops.

Soon after opening, LCY was extended to its present 1200m to allow larger aircraft such as the Embraer E series but this in not planned for Alderney.  No date has been given for the start or completion of the project which includes a new terminal and fire station.

At present the only scheduled services are by Aurigny, owned by the Bailiwick, although some interest is being shown by Blue Islands, a regional airline based in the Channel Island of Jersey, whose origination can be traced back to Alderney.

Amongst the many supporters of the project is the 1980 Moscow Olympic 100m breaststroke swimming gold medallist Duncan Goodhew, a resident on the island, who called it “excellent news.  Something had to be done about the airport.”

www.airport.gg/alderney-airport

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