Originally Posted by
ManchesterUK
Hello, hope you don’t mind me raising a question I’ve been thinking about during the past few months. Given COVID, Manchester has obviously seen a dramatic fall in activity, so much so that it’s second runway is now no longer used.
Do you think there’s a certain tipping point when activity increases to such a level that the airport will reopen the second runway? I ask this as if there’s a vaccine next year (fingers crossed), airport activity will start to rev back up - but the subsequent economic toll of the pandemic may mean activity is way behind pre covid levels, meaning 23L still isn’t needed. I’d just be interested to hear what others’ thoughts are on when that tipping point may be.
IMHO it will be at least 2-3 years before 20+ million is achieved again - the south runway may yet see some use in the meantime if only for maintenance backup; however other issues are fire cover and certainly a period navaid retesting.