New runway will cut airport delays
[November 24th 2008]
A new runway has opened at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport which is expected to significantly reduce flight delays.
The new third runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has been built in order to reduce delays to arriving flights during lower visibility weather at the airport. Seattle is known as ‘Rain City’ and poor weather frequently causes airport delays.
The existing two runways at Seattle-Tacoma were too close together to allow two streams of traffic to arrive in poor visibility. The new third runway has been built far enough away from the easternmost runway to allow two streams of traffic to operate in virtually all weather conditions.
“This is a significant success for the Port of Seattle. The runway is expected to save five million gallons of fuel for airlines and over 50,000 tons of greenhouse gases per year,” explains John Creighton, president of airport operators, Port of Seattle Commission.
“Most importantly, it will reduce delays and save millions of dollars for airlines as well as time for passengers,” Creighton adds.
The new runway at Sea-Tac airport is 8,500 feet long, 150 feet wide and 17 inches thick. It was constructed using 130,000 cubic yards of concrete and 35,000 tons of asphalt and is designed to last 40 years. The current projected cost of the runway is $1,013 billion, about $115 million less than the approved budget for the project.
As well as Rain City, Seattle is also known as Jet City as it is home to aircraft manufacturer Boeing. The city, on the northwestern coast of the USA, is also home to two more of the world’s largest companies, coffee shop chain Starbucks and computer software producer Microsoft.
British Airways offers daily non-stop flights to Seattle from Heathrow. US airline Northwest Airlines also offers flights from Heathrow to Seattle via Amsterdam with its partner KLM.
Written by: Nick Purdom
Save up to 60% and book your Heathrow Airport parking at an unbeatable price with Holiday Extras
Related News Articles
Clocks go back October | Clocks change Autumn 2011 - 26/10/2011
Pull the curtains, grab a blanket and get cosy, on Sunday October 30 2011 it's time to put your clocks back.Summer holiday bargains | Travellers wait to grab last minute deals - 15/08/2011
UK holiday-makers are holding out for last minute travel bargains this summer, and nabbing some great deals.Glasgow Airport Roadworks - 15/08/2011
Allow more time when travelling to and from Glasgow Airport. Roadworks are expected to cause delays until May 5th.
