Daily runway closures to drop from August, says Airport Director

Daily runway closures at the Island's airport will drop from 5 a day to two, from August 1.

That's the latest from the Airport Director, who has confirmed a new roster will be in place from the start of next month.

Runway closures were first introduced in June to ensure air traffic controllers’ mandatory rest periods were taken amid staffing pressures.

Daily runway closures currently take place at the following times:

08:30-09:05

11:00-11:35

13:30-14:15

16:00-16:35

18:30-19:15

However, from Tuesday, August 1 only the two morning closures will be retained:

08:30-09:05

11:00-11:35

Airport Director Gary Cobb said: ‘While the introduction of the new roster is a positive step and will improve the passenger experience, staff resource within Air Traffic Control remains finely-balanced. Building resilience is vital for island connectivity, and the team are focussing on both training existing staff and preparing for new starters following recruitment as part of the longer-term strategy. We thank all airlines and passengers for their patience during this challenging period, and wish to provide reassurance that the team is working extremely hard to make your journeys as smooth as possible.’