Jazmin Li
In April 2020, the Westchester County Airport shut down for runway repairs, taking advantage of an air traffic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The airport's main runway, which handles over 40 commercial flights a day, was closed for repairs from April 29 through May 5, with further repairs continuing through May 21. During this time, the airport remained open to helicopter traffic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of shutdown | April 29 - May 5, 2020 |
| Reason for shutdown | Runway repairs |
| Runway repaired | Runway 16/34 |
| Airlines suspending flights | JetBlue, American |
| Resumption of flights | JetBlue: June 10, 2020; American: June 4, 2020 |
| Time taken for repairs | Three weeks |
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What You'll Learn
Runway repairs
The Westchester County Airport in New York closed for runway repairs in April 2020. The repairs were expected to last for one month, with both runways shut down from April 29 through May 5. During this time, workers fixed a section of pavement where the two runways intersect. The main runway, 16/34, was also repaired.
The shutdown was coordinated with the airport's commercial air carriers and other operators who use the airport. The decision to take advantage of the slowdown in air traffic due to the coronavirus was made to complete the repairs more quickly and efficiently. Jorge Roberts, the chief executive officer of AvPorts, which runs the airport for the county, said that the low traffic volume presented an opportunity to be productive. The airport typically has about 40 flights per day, but traffic had dwindled since the start of the pandemic.
Nearby residents, who had previously been frustrated by late-night and early-morning noise from the airport, were looking forward to the break during what is typically the airport's busiest time of year. The repairs were initially scheduled to start in the summer, but it made sense to bring the work forward to take advantage of the quieter runways.
The main runway at Westchester County Airport reopened after three weeks, ahead of schedule. The rehabilitation project was supposed to take three months, but the reduced number of flights during the pandemic allowed officials to complete the work much more quickly.
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Low air traffic due to coronavirus
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on air traffic, with numerous airlines suspending operations and travel demand decreasing drastically. This decrease in air traffic was one of the main reasons behind the temporary shutdown of Westchester County Airport in April-May 2020.
During the pandemic, governments worldwide implemented air traffic restrictions and border closures to curb the spread of the virus. These measures directly impacted airlines, with 64 global airlines halting all scheduled flights. For instance, Air Serbia suspended operations due to international air traffic restrictions imposed by the Serbian government. Similarly, Air Malta ceased operations after the Maltese government suspended all commercial flight traffic to the island nation. Other airlines, like AirAsia's Philippines subsidiary, Air Transat, and EgyptAir, also cancelled flights following government directives.
The low demand for travel during the pandemic further exacerbated the situation. With people adhering to stay-at-home policies and working remotely, the need for air travel diminished significantly. This decrease in demand, coupled with travel bans, forced some airlines to temporarily cease operations entirely.
In the case of Westchester County Airport, the slowdown in air traffic presented an opportunity to conduct necessary runway repairs efficiently. The airport typically handles about 40 flights per day, but the pandemic caused a notable decline in flight activity. Taking advantage of this lull, the airport authorities coordinated with commercial air carriers and operators to shut down the airport temporarily for crucial runway repairs.
While the primary focus was on repairing the main runway (Runway 16/34), the shutdown also allowed for improvements to other sections of the airport. This proactive approach ensured that the airport could be made safer and more efficient during a period of reduced air traffic.
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Suspension of flights by JetBlue and American
In April 2020, two of the four commercial carriers operating out of Westchester County Airport, JetBlue and American Airlines, announced that they would suspend their flights. JetBlue planned to resume flights on June 10, while American Airlines would restart operations on June 4. JetBlue offered regular daily flights to Florida, and American Airlines provided services to Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Charlotte, N.C.
The suspension of flights by these carriers was in response to the upcoming runway repair work at the airport. The main runway, 16/34, required repaving for safety reasons, and the decreased air traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic presented an opportunity to undertake these repairs with minimal disruption. The airport typically handles 40 or more commercial flights per day, but the pandemic significantly reduced air traffic, making it an ideal time to carry out the necessary improvements.
The decision to suspend flights by JetBlue and American Airlines was coordinated with the airport and other operators. Jorge Roberts, the chief executive officer of AvPorts, which manages the airport for the county, acknowledged the benefits of the low traffic volume, stating that it presented an opportunity to be productive and complete improvement projects efficiently. The runway repairs were initially scheduled for the summer, but the pandemic-induced slowdown allowed them to be brought forward and completed sooner.
During the suspension of flights by JetBlue and American Airlines, the airport remained open to helicopter traffic. The repairs were expected to last for approximately one month, with both runways closed from April 29 to May 5 for the intersection work and repairs to the main runway continuing through May 21. This temporary shutdown allowed for essential maintenance to be conducted safely and efficiently, ensuring the airport could resume full operations as soon as possible.
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Repaving of runway 16/34
The main runway at Westchester County Airport, Runway 16/34, needed to be repaved for safety reasons. Typically, repairs would be done overnight when the airport is virtually shut down. However, the coronavirus pandemic presented an opportunity to accelerate the project. With a slowdown in air traffic, the airport was able to shut down completely, allowing for the work to be done in a shorter amount of time. The shutdown was coordinated with the airport's commercial air carriers, as well as business and general operators. The project was expected to take three months, but due to the reduced number of flights, it was completed in just three weeks.
Runway 16/34 is the airport's primary runway. Both it and a section connecting it to the other runway were repaved. The repairs began on April 29, 2020, and continued through May 21, 2020. During this time, the airport was closed to fixed-wing aircraft, but it remained open to helicopter traffic.
The shutdown was announced by the Federal Aviation Administration. Two of the airport's four commercial carriers, JetBlue and American, suspended flights during the shutdown. JetBlue had daily flights to Florida, while American flew to Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Charlotte, N.C. The repairs were originally scheduled to start in the summer of 2020, during the airport's busiest time of year.
Nearby residents expressed relief at the timing of the shutdown, as it meant a break from the late-night and early-morning noise typically associated with the airport's operations. The completion of the rehabilitation project was called a "silver lining" of the coronavirus crisis by County Executive George Latimer.
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Redirecting air traffic to other airports
The temporary shutdown of Westchester County Airport was coordinated with the airport's commercial carriers, business operators, and general operators. The low traffic volume due to the coronavirus pandemic presented an opportunity to complete the runway repairs in a shorter amount of time.
During the closure, air traffic was redirected to other airports in the area. This allowed for the safe execution of a large-scale project. Typically, repairs would be carried out overnight when the airport is virtually shut down. However, the pandemic provided a unique window to undertake repairs during the day without disrupting regular operations.
The main runway, Runway 16/34, required repaving for safety reasons. The work included repairs to the airport's primary runway and a section connecting both runways. The project was initially expected to take three months, but due to the reduced number of flights, it was completed in just three weeks.
The diversion of flights to nearby airports ensured that travellers could still access air travel during the closure. The temporary shutdown impacted JetBlue and American Airlines, which suspended flights during the repairs, resuming in June 2020.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport shut down to allow workers to repair the runway. The traffic slowdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic presented an opportunity to complete the repairs in a shorter amount of time.
The airport shut down on Monday, April 29, 2020, and was expected to last for one month.
Two of the airport's four commercial carriers, JetBlue and American, suspended flights during the shutdown. JetBlue had daily flights to Florida, while American flew to Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Charlotte, N.C.
