Second runway at Bordeaux airport likely to be renovated not closed
Move may lead to backlash from local people who are unhappy due to the noise levels
Bordeaux Airport has not confirmed the decision
Chris worldwide/Shutterstock
The secondary runway at Bordeaux airport is likely to be renovated, not closed, according to reports that the Transport Ministry has made a decision after years of debate.
The communes of Pessac, Talence and Martignas-sur-Jalle, which surround the airport, have been campaigning for closure of the second runway because of the additional noise from low-flying aircraft.
A spokesman for the Pessac municipality said: “In summer, 25% of the flights from Bordeaux airport now use the second runway, while 20 years ago only around 2% of the flights did.
"When people bought their houses, there was no need to mention the noise nuisance from the airport, but now it is obligatory because of the increase in noise.”
The commune, which is working with the two others, estimates that 49,000 people are affected when the second runway is used.
However, if the runway was closed, 2,200 more people in the communes of Eysines and Haillan would be exposed to additional aircraft noise because some aircraft would have to wait to land.
Either way, the decision (which the Transport Ministry did not confirm to The Connexion) is unlikely to have an impact on international flights. The airport lists eight UK and Irish destinations.
Airport protests
However, if there are protests they could disrupt access to the airport (the access road has already been blocked by demonstrations in the past).
The airport told The Connexion that it had not been informed of any decision.
Read more: New Bordeaux-Edinburgh flight route announced by easyJet
A move to renovate the second runway is also likely to heighten tensions between the government and Bordeaux city, which has a Green mayor.
He is pushing for more investment in TER commuter trains for the city or on a TGV line between Bordeaux and Toulouse.
