Projects
A runway is the most important part of any airport.
Every flight starts and ends there, carrying people heading off for big moments. It might be a long-awaited holiday, a weekend break, a business trip, or even a move to a new country. All of it depends on the runway.
It’s what keeps the airport running safely and efficiently. Its length, surface, and condition decide what planes can land, how many flights operate each day, and how smoothly everything runs. That’s why we’re investing in a major rehabilitation programme to upgrade and modernise our 06/24 runway.
What’s happening?
Edinburgh Airport is investing £30 million to deliver essential runway rehabilitation works that will ensure continued safety and reliability. The runway, last significantly upgraded in 2008, will be completely resurfaced. The new surface will future-proof the runway and introduce new technology to improve operations and sustainability.
The works include:
A full asphalt overlay of our 1.6-mile runway
Upgrading all 1,200 runway lights from tungsten to LEDs
Improved drainage for safer operations
New weather sensors to provide accurate temperature readings and reduce de-icer use, improving water quality
When will the works take place?
We’re partnering with Lagan Aviation & Infrastructure, a civil engineering firm experienced in runway resurfacing. They will begin work at Edinburgh on Sunday 2 November, running through to the end of March 2026.
Work will take place Sunday to Thursday each week. The runway will close nightly from 2345 to 0545, with no flights during that time. Around 150 people and 100 vehicles will access the site each night.
What will happen each night?
Preparations are already underway, including construction of a temporary batching plant to produce around 1,300 tonnes of asphalt every night.
The contractor will resurface roughly 600 metres per night, working through 39 sections of 70 metres.
Each shift allows six hours of work before the runway reopens for morning flights.
Does this impact on the operation as a whole?
The closures mean no arrivals or departures during the nightly work window. We’ve scheduled the works for winter, when flight volumes are lower, to reduce disruption. Of course, we cannot control delayed or off-schedule flights, but we’ve worked closely with airline partners to plan for any issues and keep impact to a minimum.
Will the works be completed by the morning?
Yes - all the works will be completed by 0545 each morning.
As always, safety is paramount so our Airside Operations team will inspect the runway before the first flight departs to make sure everything is safe and ready.
Will the works impact on my local community?
Work is taking place overnight to reduce disruption, as this is the airport’s quietest period. The main work site has been built over recent weeks and will serve as the base for the teams each night. Some local noise or vehicle movement is possible, but we’ll aim to keep this to a minimum.
Will everyone be working over Christmas?
No! We’ve factored in a Christmas break to make sure everyone can go and get their shopping done and also bring in the New Year.
There will be a fortnight break between Friday 19 December and Sunday 4 January.