Philadelphia International Airport wants to attract bigger planes and build capacity for more direct international flights, so it will start by extending a runway lane 1,500 feet as part of a much larger, 15-year plan to increase its profile.
The airport recently received approval from the Tinicum Board of Commissioners to build the extension, which comes with an expected price tag of $85 million and is slated for completion by 2017,
Newsworks reports.
Regional authorities approved the full $6.4 billion project in May, resolving four legal disputes and local objections to an initial airport plan that would have displaced 300 residents and 80 businesses. Under the agreement, the airport will pay Tinicum $5 million for about 9 acres of land dedicated to runway construction.
"What we anticipate is that this will allow us to attract new routes to further destinations because it will accommodate planes that carry heavier loads of fuel," said airport spokeswoman Mary Flannery.
The overall plan aims to make Philadelphia's airport more competitive by cutting down on delays and accommodating requests for more nonstop flights.
