Lydd Airport aims for 2m passengers a year
London Ashford Airport in Lydd, Kent, has submitted planning applications for a new terminal and runway extension.
If approved, the development would enable the underused airport to eventually handle up to two million passengers a year – up from its current capacity of 300,000.
The proposed runway extension will allow aircraft to operate at Lydd with full payloads, so the airport would be able to offer a greater range of more distant destinations to passengers.
The cost of the runway extension is put at £3 million and it is expected to take around four months to construct.
Airport managing director Zaher Deir said the extension would allow aircraft which are capable of using the current runway to carry more fuel loads, thus permitting a greater range of destinations to be served.
“The increase in runway length will also have an added benefit of allowing the same number of passengers to be carried as previously with a smaller number of aircraft movements,” he said.
“As part of our overall redevelopment proposals for Lydd, separate applications are also being submitted for the construction of a new two-phase terminal building. The first phase would allow for up to 500,000 passengers a year, and the second would increase this capability to allow two million passengers to pass through the airport each year.”
The new terminal building is subject to two separate planning applications, each covering the two phases of building development.
The construction period for phase one of the terminal is scheduled to last around 18 months and will be triggered once the airport reaches 200,000 passengers with the existing facilities.
Report by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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