One of the three runways at Brussels Airport will be closed for major renovations from Saturday.
Runway 07R/25L is expected to remain closed for more than six weeks, until 27 August.
The airport operator announced this on Monday and expects the work to have "minimal impact" on airport operations, although "limited delays cannot be completely ruled out".
The runway will be given new asphalt, new runway lighting and improved drainage. "These are essential works to continue to guarantee the safety and efficiency of air traffic," says the airport operator.
While works are ongoing, no aircraft will be able to land on or take off from the runway.
"We are doing everything we can to minimise the impact, but during this period, delays on certain flights are possible during busy times," an airport spokesperson told The Brussels Times, adding that it is "too early" to provide more information because possible delays depend on "other factors" such as the weather.
Second runway to close
Runway 07R/25L crosses runway 01/19. When work is carried out at that location – between 2 and 12 August – runway 01/19 will also be closed to air traffic. At that time, only one runway (07L/25R) will be available at Zaventem airport.
Runway 07R/25L is the southern of the two parallel runways at Brussels Airport and is mainly used for landings. More than half of all arriving aircraft at the airport last year landed on this runway, mostly from the east.
The works will have an impact on runway use at the airport. The preferential runway use, which determines which runways are used depending on weather conditions, will not always be able to be followed.
