Why the work is being carried out
The main runway (06/24) was opened in 1977 and has been the main operational runway at the airport ever since. Around 97% of the aircraft that use Edinburgh Airport operate from this main runway.
The runway was last resurfaced in 1991 and since then, Edinburgh Airport has changed, almost beyond recognition. Back in 1991, Edinburgh Airport was a small airport, mainly serving UK destinations. Today, it is a major international airport and the busiest in Scotland, with over 100 destinations served.
How Edinburgh Airport has changed since 1991
| Year | 1991 | 2008 (forecast) |
| Number of aircraft movements | 56,000 | 126,000 |
| Number of passengers | 2.3 million | 9 million |
| Tonnage of cargo transported | 1,060 | 19,500 |
This increase in traffic has placed greater pressure on the main runway and combined with its age, has left the runway requiring increasing amounts of maintenance. That is why work must be undertaken to resurface the runway to ensure it can continue to be used in the future.
However, it is important to make clear that the main airport runway is entirely safe to use. The airport’s airfield operations team carry out at least four inspections every day on the runway, identifying and repairing any damage and 
clearing any debris. The airport also closes the main runway for ten days in the spring and ten days in the autumn to carry out maintenance.
However, the airport has now decided that resurfacing works must take place to avoid the main runway becoming unsafe in the future.
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