One runway at Brussels Airport, Belgium's biggest airport, will be closed for renovation for almost the entire summer holiday. This could cause delays to flights during one of the busiest travel seasons.
Brussels Airport will be renovating runway 07R/25L from 12 July to 27 August, coinciding with this year's summer holidays. No planes will be able to land on or take off from this runway during this time. This was announced on the website of the airport and air traffic controller Skeyes, and was confirmed to The Brussels Times by an airport spokesperson.
"As runway 07R/25L intersects with runway 01/19, both runways will be closed to air traffic between 2 and 12 August. During this period, only runway 07L/25R will be in use," the spokesperson said.
The airport will work to limit the impact of these renovation works as much as possible. "But there may be delays on certain flights during busy periods."
Necessary works
While such disruption is not ideal during one of the airport's busiest periods, these works are deemed necessary for the safety of air traffic. The runway will undergo extensive renovation, with new asphalt, runway lights and sewerage to improve runway drainage.
Runway 07R/25L is the southern of the two parallel runways at Brussels Airport and is mainly used for landings. Over half of all aircraft arriving at the airport last year landed on this runway, mostly from the east.
The selection of runways in use is made by the air traffic services provider Skeyes based on runway availability and weather conditions, with a focus on ensuring the safety of air navigation.
Such runway closures are not uncommon. Construction works on the various runways took place last month, while runway 01/19 was closed for a month last August for maintenance and renovation works.
