Knock airport plans €10m runway upgrade

Ireland West Airport Knock is planning to upgrade and resurface its runway as part of a €15 million facilities investment plan.

The company’s strategy will see investment in new passenger facilities, terminal upgrades and infrastructural work across the airport facility.

The airport will implement a new brand identity, remodel the departures area, improve the airport retail and catering facilities, and upgrade existing car park facilities.

The most significant investment, however, is the €10 million upgrade and overlay of the airport’s 2.5km runway, which is 30 years old. The upgrade work will extend the life of the runway by 15-20 years, according to tender documents. Additionally, the airport plans to increase the pavement classification number of the runway, which will allow it accommodate “current and future anticipated aircraft size”.

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For pilots, the existing runway instrument landing system will be upgraded to enable “enhanced navigation”, while the runway lighting system will be upgraded so that all lights are LED.

Security-related projects

This development plan follows the completion last year of a raft of safety and security-related projects at a cost of over €2.5 million.

Joe Gilmore, the airport's managing director, said the latest investments "will make the airport more efficient, provide greater flexibility and resilience to the passengers and ensure an even more comfortable and easier journey through the airport".

“This is especially important at a time when we are experiencing passenger growth and working with our airline partners to introduce more choice in services for our customers,” he said.

The runway work is expected to begin in 2019, while the upgrades to the airport’s other facilities are due to be completed in the same year.

It is understood the airport is undergoing an application process with the Department of Transport to secure 75 per cent of the project costs under the Regional Airports Programme.