Optimising the current infrastructure increases the capacity to 84 movements per hour
In the future, the current usage of the existing runways will no longer be able to satisfy the growing demand of passengers and airlines during peak hours at the airport.
Currently, under normal weather conditions, a maximum of 74 aircraft movements per hour is possible. If the wind is unfavourable, the alternative runway usage allows for a maximum of only 50 aircraft movements per hour.
In a first stage, we will work on optimising the current runway infrastructure. This will mean we can increase the capacity from 74 to 84 movements per hour. That is sufficient to satisfy the demand of passengers and airlines in 2025.
How can the current usage be optimised?
1. Modernising procedures, so that, for example, the separation between two arriving flights can be reduced.
2. Deploying new technologies to monitor aircraft, both on their route and when landing and taking off. For example, precision approach and continuous descent approaches. This energy efficient landing technique, adopted in 2012, sees aircraft make a constant angle approach instead of the traditional stair-step approach. This has a positive impact on both noise and energy use.
3. Constructing additional entrances and exits on the runways, so that the aircraft can enter or leave the runway faster.
4. Use runway 01/19 for take-off in normal weather conditions and normal runway operations during the departure peak.
5. Use all three runways for landing during alternative runway use.
What does all this achieve?
- The peak capacity is increased to 84 movements per hour, both during normal and alternative runway usage.
- The usage of the available runways is optimised, which reduces the risk of delays for infrastructural reasons.
Runway usage is laid down by the federal government in the PRS, preferential runway system.