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# Alderney Airport runway reconstruction delayed until 2028
- URL: https://www.thequarry.media/alderney-airport-runway-reconstruction-delayed-until-2028/
- Published: 2026-09-11T13:49:20.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-11T13:49:20.000Z
- Author: The Quarry
- Tags: News

- Reconstruction of Alderney Airport's main runway delayed to 2028 at the earliest following design review
- Revised plans avoid widening the 18-metre runway, reducing construction material volume by approximately 25 per cent
- Director of Civil Aviation confirms current regulatory alleviation can continue with suitable safety case
- Competitive tender process expected to commence in early 2027 after five-month design development period
- Existing runway patching programme to continue ensuring air services remain operational during delay

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Major reconstruction work on Alderney Airport's main runway has been pushed back to 2028 at the earliest following a design review.

The delay stems from changes relating to the width and profile of the current 877-metre asphalt runway, which require additional design work before the construction contract can be put out to tender.

The runway's existing width of 18 metres falls below the 23-metre minimum required under international aviation standards for runways exceeding 800 metres in length. Operations currently continue under an 'alleviation' granted by the Director of Civil Aviation (DCA).

[Alderney runway: more than a decade of indecision that has cost £12m. and counting![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/48/0b/480bfed6-f3f7-4a48-9efe-fae23adf5d03/content/images/icon/The-Quarry-logo-1-1-d43ce343-6c6a-487a-a296-8d119eb8a61b.png)The Quarry - Independent news from GuernseyNick Mann![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/48/0b/480bfed6-f3f7-4a48-9efe-fae23adf5d03/content/images/thumbnail/Alderney-runway-71a31f73-1295-4881-94d4-b9f228df6c60.png)](https://www.thequarry.media/alderney-runway-more-than-a-decade-of-indecision-that-has-cost-12m-and-counting/)

Initial planning had assumed the runway would need widening during reconstruction. However, the DCA has now confirmed that the current alleviation could continue, provided a suitable safety case is presented, given the aircraft types expected to operate at Alderney.

This design change aligns with a 2025 States directive seeking to minimise alterations to current runway dimensions. The revised approach will avoid the additional costs associated with widening, reducing the volume of construction material required by approximately 25 per cent.

The project had initially focused exclusively on the main asphalt runway to minimise costs in accordance with the States resolution. The previous design therefore did not consider how the reconstructed profile would affect its intersection with two existing grass runways.

Whilst the grass runways are not part of the current project, the Project Board has revised plans to ensure they can be retained for future use where possible, without incurring significant additional costs to the main runway reconstruction.

The project's technical advisers are now developing the new design, a process expected to take up to five months. Once completed, it will form the basis for a competitive tender process to appoint a contractor, anticipated to commence in early 2027.

The successful bidder will then collaborate with the project team to finalise the design, identify potential value engineering opportunities, and determine when and how construction will be carried out to ensure completion at the lowest possible cost.

Policy & Resources Committee Vice-President, Deputy Yvonne Burford, said: "The Policy & Resources Committee remains committed to the rehabilitation of Alderney Airport's asphalt runway as soon as is practically possible. In the meantime, the runway patching programme will continue to ensure that air services to Alderney are able to continue to operate."

States' Trading and Supervisory Board President, Deputy Mark Helyar, said: "We have had positive engagement with four companies who have expressed interest in the project, and we are keeping them appraised of developments. No definitive timeline for the completion of the works can be provided until the contract has been awarded and early contractor engagement has commenced."

He added: "In the meantime, Guernsey Ports will continue to maintain the existing asphalt runway to ensure Alderney Airport remains operational."

States of Alderney Policy & Finance chair, Jeannie Cameron, said: "While we are disappointed by the delay, we welcome P&R's confirmation that work on the runway will begin in spring 2028\. This provides much-needed certainty for Alderney's hospitality and tourism sector, allowing businesses to plan for a business-as-usual 2027 season. We have also been reassured that essential runway repairs and maintenance will continue in the meantime, and welcome agreement that P&F will receive regular updates from the Runway Project Board as the project progresses."

In April 2025, the States of Guernsey directed the Policy & Resources Committee to establish the lowest possible cost and most practical approach for maintaining an operational aerodrome in Alderney. The directive focused on the paved runway with dimensions of up to 877 metres in length and 18 metres in width, seeking regulatory alleviations where possible to minimise work whilst maintaining safety standards.

The two grass runways, which intersect the asphalt runway at approximately their midpoint, are used solely by private light aircraft. Significant upgrade work would be required before they could accommodate commercial aircraft, which falls outside the scope of the current project.

Four companies have already expressed interest in the reconstruction project and are being kept informed of developments. However, no definitive completion timeline can be provided until a contractor is appointed and early engagement commences.

## Q&A

**Q: Why has the runway reconstruction been delayed?**  
A: The delay is due to changes relating to the width and profile of the runway, which require additional design work before the construction contract can be tendered. The project team has revised plans to avoid widening the runway and to preserve the grass runways for future use.

**Q: Will the runway need to be widened from its current 18 metres?**  
A: No. Although the current 18-metre width is below the 23-metre international standard, the Director of Civil Aviation has confirmed the existing regulatory alleviation can continue with a suitable safety case, given the aircraft types expected to operate at Alderney.

**Q: When will construction work actually begin?**  
A: Work is expected to commence in spring 2028\. The design development will take up to five months, followed by a competitive tender process starting in early 2027\. No definitive completion timeline can be provided until a contractor is appointed and early engagement commences.