Groningen Airport Eelde’s runway extension from 1,800m to 2,500m will enable a wider range of destinations to be served from the airport.
Groningen Airport Eelde is the airport of the northern Netherlands, and its runway extension from 1,800m to 2,500m was officially opened on 24 April, enabling a wider range of destinations to be served from the airport. Groningen is at the heart of the Netherlands’ oil and gas industry, with a number of major companies, such as Gasunie, based in the region. The airport saw an impressive +40% rise in passenger numbers in 2012 to 208,660. The summer 2013 schedule offers a wide range of destinations, including charter services from transavia.com and Corendon to Spain, Greece, Portugal, Turkey and the Canary Islands. A recent addition to the route network is Corendon’s twice-weekly service to Antalya, which was made possible by the opening of the extended runway. Meanwhile, Ryanair has introduced three routes from Groningen during this summer season – to Milan Bergamo, Mallorca and Girona Barcelona.
Marco van de Kreeke, Airport Director, said: “Groningen Airport Eelde is of and for the northern Netherlands. We connect the northern Netherlands with the world around us. Within Europe, the northern Netherlands is an interesting region with more and more international relationships. With the longer runway we can improve access to and from the region, which means more connections from Groningen, but also new opportunities for incoming tourism.”
Marco van de Kreeke, Airport Director: “Groningen Airport Eelde is of and for the northern Netherlands. We connect the northern Netherlands with the world around us.”
The year-long runway extension project included applying a new surface layer over the entire length of the runway. The runway was not treated with the usual tar asphalt surface layer, but rather with a top layer that consists of the innovative and more eco-friendly SMA-plus – a Stone Mastic Asphalt that has been treated in such a way that it provides the skid resistance required for runways. Further enhancing the sustainable credentials of the project, the electricity needed for the work was generated from wind power. The runway lighting is provided by energy-efficient LED lights, which provide a 60% energy reduction on traditional runway lights. Meanwhile, it was necessary to raise the runway, for which a material known as bottom ash was used – this is produced in a recycling incinerator. The airport also set aside seven hectares of land to the north and south of the runway, in which it has planted trees to compensate for those lost during the extension works.
The official opening was performed by Wilma Mansveld, State Secretary of Infrastructure and Environment. She commented: “The longer runway ensures better access and economic opportunities for the North. The presence of an airport with a range of destinations is an important location condition for many companies. The environment also benefits from a longer runway, because a refuelling stop somewhere else is no longer necessary.”
The runway extension opens up route opportunities to destinations further afield in Europe, without operating restrictions, making it a more attractive proposition to airlines. It is expected to boost the economy of the northern Netherlands, resulting in additional jobs and incoming tourism, and contribute to achieving the objective of becoming a fully-fledged regional airport of national importance.
