Runway repairs start at Darwin International Airport, RAAF Base Darwin

Runway repairs are set to go ahead this week, with travel plans to and from the Top End impacted over the next two tourist seasons. Read the schedule for the works.

Contentious plans to refurbish Top End runways are set to go ahead this week amid serious concerns for passenger disruptions.

Works will begin on Tuesday and continue until November 30, before recommencing on April 2 next year, until late 2024.

Airport Development Group chief executive Tony Edmondstone said airlines would now be able to “provide certainty to the travelling public”.

“Air connectivity is crucial for Territorians and these works are essential to support the safe and efficient operation of the airport for the next couple of decades,” he said.

“Airport Development Group recognises the disruption that this project will cause, and will work with airlines to rearrange flight schedules to maintain connectivity for Territorians and visitors alike.”

Runways works at Darwin International Airport and RAAF Base Darwin could impact travel plans. Picture: Floss Adams.

The first phase of the $200m package – to be split between Darwin International Airport and RAAF Base Darwin – will see runway lengths reduced “with no impact on airline operations” until October 8, 2023.

Darwin Airport’s main runway will be closed daily from 2am to 11.30am from October 9 to November 30 during phase two of the project.

A Defence spokesman said regional airline traffic could be diverted to a secondary runway if necessary but some disruptions were “unavoidable”.

“The secondary cross runway at Darwin airport does not have lighting to support night flights and is neither long enough nor strong enough to support large airliners,” he said in a statement.

“As such, major airline traffic cannot be diverted to the cross runway.”

The Darwin Airport runway is used jointly by the Royal Australian Air Force and the Airport Development Group but owned by Defence, with runway and associated taxiways requiring maintenance every 10-15 years.

The airport’s runway was last upgraded in 2007.

A Defence spokesman previously said the works program would support safe and efficient operations at the airport for at least the next decade.

“The runway works at Darwin were deferred in 2020 as increased international repatriation flights operated from Darwin, during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said in a statement.

“Sections of the runway began to show signs of deterioration in early 2022 leading to safety concerns and Defence and Airport Development Group agreed to bring forward the commencement of the runway works.”