Originally Posted by
Machspeed
due the spring slow down due runway (where else in the world does a 24 hr airport close down half of its capacity for 3 months).
Runways do wear out and have to be replaced.
Heathrow had one of theirs done last year. But they, like most of Europe, have the luxury of doing it at night when airports shut. Dubai never shuts.
The option to do it in 10-12 hour time periods was examined but it was decided it was less disruptive to do it by closing during the quieter traffic months in the summer (cause it's too damned hot to holiday here).
It's not just one runway being done, the Southern Runway has to close to allow work on the RETs which are being improved. Then the northern runway gets resurfaced, RET work completed and an end around taxiway.
This is a truly MASSIVE project and to complete it with only 80 days of closure is exceptionally challenging.