CLE Puts Kibosh On Runway Expansion | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.07.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.08.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.25.25

Airborne-AffordableFlyers-06.26.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.27.25

Tue, May 08, 2007

CLE Puts Kibosh On Runway Expansion

Full Extension Not An 'Immediate Priority'

Officials in Cleveland, OH have decided to downsize plans for a runway expansion at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport that was, at one time, deemed critical in CLE's attempt to compete on a global level with additional nonstop international flights.

Airport director Ricky Smith said the move was due to high costs and a lack of scheduled nonstop flights so full extension is not an immediate priority, according to The Associated Press.

"We don't need a runway at 11,250 feet unless we're going to have service to the Pacific Rim, Asia," Smith said. "At this point, we don't have any service to the Pacific Rim."

The original plan included one of two 9,000-foot runways to be lengthened to 11,250 feet to accommodate 747s and 757s on nonstop flights to Asia and was estimated to cost $54 million. The city rejected two bids of $78 million or more.

The pared-down plan provides for an extension to 10,000 feet. An intersection with a nearby smaller runway will also be removed. This $41 million project will not accommodate additional international flights, Smith said.

Continental Airlines officials initially approved the full extension and agreed with the change. The carrier currently offers seasonal nonstop flights to London Gatwick and plans to add nonstop flights to Paris next year.

"We support the city's direction 100 percent," Continental spokeswoman Mary Clark said Friday. "We were really consulted all along the way."

According to Cleveland's The Plain Dealer, the airport's 1999 master plan anticipated demand for international flights and recommended extending one runway to 11,250 feet.

CLE has spent millions of dollars in planning for and defending this project. The airport has even had to battle a lawsuit from suburban neighbor Olmsted Falls, which objected to channeling a creek through pipes that run under the path of the proposed extension, according to the newspaper.

The city is out some money, too. It paid a consultant $2.9 million to design the extension in 2004.

Todd Payne, director of marketing and air-service development at CLE, said improved technology might allow for jets to take off for Asia from shorter runways some days.

"Eventually, it might not be necessary to have super-long runways," Payne said.

FMI: www.clevelandairport.com/

Advertisement

More News

Airborne 06.30.25: US v ADS-B Misuse, NatÂ’l STOL Fire, Volocopter Resumes

Also: Netherlands Donates 18 F16s, 2 737s Collide On Ramp, E-7 Wedgetail Cut, AgEagle's 100th In S Korea The Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act was introduced in the House by Represent>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (07.06.25)

“This delivery represents more than just a milestone. It symbolizes our shared commitment to national security and our unwavering support for the men and women who serve on t>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (07.06.25)

Aero Linx: Vintage Wings of Canada Foundation Vintage Wings of Canada is a not-for-profit, charitable organization with a collection of historically significant aircraft and is run>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: Portrait of the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation

From 2023 (YouTube Edition): To Preserve and Teach Incorporated as a non-profit domestic corporation in June 1997, the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation (AAHF) is a one-of-a-kind, >[...]

Airborne-NextGen 07.01.25: Volocopter Returns, B23 Energic, Iran Tech In UAVs?

Also: Air Taxis May Be Close, AgEagle Sells 100th, VAI Likes Bedford, AURA AERO Cleans Up Volocopter has resumed work towards the certification of its VoloCity eVTOL, this time und>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC