Press Release - Runway Repairs

Lift off for Alderney runway repairs next week

Significant progress should be made this year on the long-term refurbishment of the main runway at Alderney Airport, which has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In the meantime, crucial maintenance and runway repairs will take place at Alderney Airport throughout July.

Substantial runway repairs are needed using newly developed materials that will keep the airport operational until a decision is reached on the various options for runway strengthening, widening or lengthening to accommodate larger aircraft.

The States of Guernsey remains committed to the full refurbishment, which has been included in the list of priority capital projects in its draft Government Work Plan. It was first approved in 2019, and airport specialists AECOM were subsequently appointed to progress the design. It was hoped that a contractor to carry out the main refurbishment work would be appointed by mid-2021.

However the project had to be suspended last year due to COVID-19, which has affected all areas of the aviation industry particularly badly. It is now expected that the main construction contract will be awarded at the end of 2021. 

In the meantime, Guernsey Ports has appointed specialist UK Contractor Amco Giffin to undertake interim repairs. They will be carrying out 20 nights of work on the runway, aprons and taxiways beginning on July 5th.

"This programme will ensure that the airport remains fully operational not only for the period of the works but also until one of the three options under consideration for the Capital Project is approved and completed," said Dan Townsend, Head of Airside Operations for Guernsey and Alderney airports.

"We have carefully planned the extent and nature of the summer works and we are committed to keeping the airport fully operational until the rehabilitation project is delivered."

Each part of the repairs will have its own due diligence sign-off to ensure quality control and the contractor is working with Alderney Airport Manager Paul Bunn who will liaise on all of the works.

The contractor will take possession of the airport runway and associated surfaces each evening when daily flights have finished and then hand it back before the regular airport opening time each morning. The airport will therefore be kept fully operational throughout the summer works.

Medevac arrangements won't be affected by the repairs and will continue as normal.

Eager to keep Islanders informed on progress, members of Guernsey Ports' technical team will visit the Island on Wednesday July 14th to meet with members of the Chamber of Commerce and States of Alderney Members. They will provide an update on the main rehabilitation project, as well as a 'walk-through' at the half-way stage of the current repairs. A public drop-in session is also being planned for later in the month.

Key areas of repair include resolving a subsidence issue on Bravo Taxiway; making temporary repairs on the runway with improved materials; and undertaking full patch repairs where necessary on the runway, aprons and taxiways. All repairs and cracks will be sealed ahead of the winter season.

If the option to extend the runway is chosen and the runway rehabilitation project is delayed beyond Spring 2022, Guernsey Ports will assess whether further work is needed for Summer 2022. In the light of this possibility, some repair work has been brought forward and included in the 2021 programme.

In addition, Guernsey Ports has also invited a team of experts to visit on a future occasion to explain the longer runway option in greater depth and give some idea of what such a runway could mean for daily services on the two lifeline routes to Guernsey and Southampton as well as visits by larger private aircraft. 

Following confirmation of the Public Service Obligation (PSO), Aurigny is working closely with Guernsey Ports on the various future options for the airport and a larger ATR aircraft will be making low-level approaches into Alderney without landing to help assess the value of a longer runway.