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Kona International Airport (KOA) is the primary airport on the island of Hawai’i. The Big Island airport has a single 11,000-foot runway. Recent rainfall has exacerbated cracks and now they’re so bad that the airport has had to close entirely to repair them.
Kona International Airport closed until further notice due to cracks in runway:https://t.co/XZkLhTWxuB
— KHON2 News (@KHONnews) January 16, 2024
Yesterday, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) shut down the airport. It assessed the situation and determined that a 10 foot by 10 foot section needed to be immediately addressed. It had previously decided that the entire runway needs to be reconstructed and that project was slated for this year. Flight cancellations began popping up around 4:00 PM yesterday with inbound flights diverting to Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL).
(2/3) Currently, HDOT is also working with contractors to mill and resurface a 10’ X 10’ area. Expected completion of the resurfacing, which will allow the runway to reopen, is prior to first light Tuesday, Jan. 16.
— Hawaii DOT (@DOTHawaii) January 16, 2024
The airport is expected to reopen today after the resurfacing work is complete. Airlines serving Kona include Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Westjet. Check with your carrier if you have plans to fly into or out of the airport.
Anthony’s Take: It’s fascinating that one runway serves the entire airport and all of the vacationers that flock here. Hopefully, this will get resolved on schedule and become operational again.
(Image Credits: Hawaii DOT and Peter Luo.)
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1 comment
One runway airports are not that rare….
Gatwick
San Diego
Tokyo Narita for many years
Cotonou (Benin)
Taipei Songshan
Gatwick uses a parallel taxiway when its runway is repaired.