Southampton airport
VolkerFitzpatrick completed a £6m project to extend the runway at Southampton Airport. The project included the 164m extension to the northern end of Southampton’s runway which has allowed the airport to attract new airlines and offer new routes, creating exciting opportunities for business and leisure, while guaranteeing the airport’s viability.
- 164m extension to the northern end of Southampton’s runway
- Wider ‘turning pad’, to allow planes to u-turn at the end of the runway and a new blast screen (to minimise the impact of airport operations).
- Drainage and lighting along the runway
- Realignment of the northern perimeter fence
- Works to the airside perimeter road and landside access track
- Site remained operational by working at night
- 800 followers of community app, which provided working schedules
- The airport can now accommodate short-haul aircraft
- The works are part of a £17m investment in the South’s economy, making Southampton airport a viable alternative to central London options
“I am proud to say the programme of works to extend the airport’s runway by 164 meters was completed on time and under budget. I would like to thank everyone involved in this project for their hard work and dedication. The completion of the runway extension is an important milestone and will ensure Southampton Airport’s vital connectivity continues to deliver social and economic prosperity for the wider region.”
Steve Szalay Operations Director at Southampton Airport
Community involvement
Throughout the 10 month project, the VolkerFitzpatrick team engaged with the local community by firstly inviting local neighbours living close to the runway to an event to hear about the plans for the construction works, including working hours and measures to minimise disruption. The neighbours were provided with details of a dedicated community app, enabling them to ask questions and raise queries throughout the project, in total the app gained over 800 followers. Local supply chain contractors were also hired, providing employment opportunities over the course of the project.
Now complete, the new runway extension gives the airport the capacity to handle traditional short-haul aircraft such as the Airbus A320 or Boeing 737, which would previously have struggled to take off when fully loaded.
The works are part of a £17m investment in the South’s economy, and have cemented Southampton Airport’s status as a viable regional alternative to the main airports in and around London with the potential to be used by the likes of EasyJet, Ryanair and Jet2.
