It’s not day by day you seen an airport shut down as a result of cracks forming within the runway, however that’s precisely what occurred at one main airport in Hawaii…
Kona Airport shuts down as a result of runway issues
On the afternoon of Monday, January 15, 2024, Kona Worldwide Airport (KOA) on the Large Island of Hawaii out of the blue shut down. The airport has a single runway that’s 11,000 ft lengthy, and a few cracks have been found in it. Degradation of the runway has reportedly accelerated as a result of latest rainfall.
Yesterday it bought to the purpose the place a part of the runway situation was so dangerous {that a} 10 foot by 20 foot part of the runway wanted to be resurfaced instantly to make sure secure operations.
Beginning round 4PM on Monday afternoon, the airport was now not in a position to accommodate any arrivals or departures, resulting in a big variety of flight cancelations and diversions. Most inbound plane ended up diverting to Honolulu Worldwide Airport (HNL).
Even previous to this incident, the Hawaii Division of Transportation had deliberate a mission to reconstruct your complete runway in 2024, and that’s nonetheless on observe to occur. Suffice it to say that that is difficult work at an airport with only one runway, on condition that engaged on the runway requires it to be absolutely shut down. It’s anticipated that this work will occur progressively in a single day, to attenuate disruptions for airways and vacationers.
Kona Airport will reopen on Tuesday
It’s spectacular how briskly officers are working to get the airport up and operating once more. Work has been going down in a single day, and the purpose is to have the airport absolutely operational beginning with the primary flight on Tuesday morning.
In fact remember the fact that even with the airport reopening as of Tuesday, there’ll nonetheless doubtless be some operational impacts. In spite of everything, many flights needed to divert, so these with flights departing Kona should expertise delays and cancelations. Be sure you examine your flight standing with the airline.
Backside line
On Monday afternoon, Kona Airport was compelled to shut as a result of cracks within the runway ensuing from latest rain. Authorities are working quick to get the airport operational once more, and the plan is that flights will resume as of Tuesday morning. The runway is usually in want of a resurfacing, and it’s anticipated that the runway shall be resurfaced all through 2024, to make sure one thing like this doesn’t occur once more.
Are any OMAAT readers impacted by the Kona Airport runway closure?
