Brisbane Airport has re-opened the Cross-Runway

The Cross-Runway at Brisbane Airport has re-opened today after being closed in October last year to allow for essential preparatory works for the New Parallel Runway as part of the $50million Phase One construction program.

Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) CEO and Managing Director, Julieanne Alroe, said the re-opening would be welcomed by the aviation industry – airlines, pilots, Airservices and BAC, and travellers alike.

“The Cross-Runway is a shorter, narrower runway which means its use is limited to smaller aircraft typically used on regional routes, as well as the Royal Flying Doctors Service.

In the right conditions, up to five arriving flights an hour can potentially be put on this runway, freeing up capacity on the Main Runway for larger aircraft,” she said.

With extreme weather events interrupting the construction works in the last three months, Ms Alroe said every available resource had been engaged to make up for lost time.

“The project team has worked around the clock to complete this extensive project as soon as possible despite enduring over 450mm of rain in January and February which resulted in around 20 days delay to the construction program since the Australia Day weekend rains,” she said.

Cross-Runway facts:

The Cross-Runway can cater for approximately 5 – 7 percent of flights at BNE.

The Cross-Runway cannot handle larger aircraft due to size and weight limitations and is primarily used for RFDS, QantasLink, Virgin Australia ATR, charter and other general aviation flights.

The Cross-Runway cannot be used during poor weather conditions.

The Cross-Runway has limited use at night.

Because its use cannot be guaranteed, the Cross-Runway is not ‘scheduled’ as part of the Runway Demand Management Scheme (RDMS) or ‘slot system’ at BNE.

Airservices/Air Traffic Control and the pilot in control of the aircraft maintain absolute discretion in using or not using the Cross-Runway at any particular time or day.

Safety will always take priority in determining the usage rate of the Cross-Runway at any particular time or day.

The Cross-Runway is 1760m long and operates on a bearing of 14/32 (140 degrees/320 degrees magnetic north).