Memphis International Airport Unveils World Runway

Strategic Insights -

Memphis International Airport has officially opened its much-anticipated World Runway, a massive 2-mile-long extension of its main runway that will enable wide-bodied aircraft to fly directly from Memphis to various international destinations. The grand opening ceremony, held on Friday, was attended by as many as 4,000 people, including Vice President Gore. The $110.4 million project has been nearly 15 years in the making, with seeds of foresight planted as early as 1986 through the airport's master plan.

Key Takeaways:

  • The World Runway is a 2-mile-long extension of the main runway, making it 11,100 feet long and capable of handling wide-bodied aircraft for international flights.
  • The project cost $110.4 million and has been nearly 15 years in the making, with the master plan adopted in 1986.
  • The runway will enable direct flights from Memphis to Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America, making it a critical factor in the airport's economic development and potential for increased cargo traffic.
  • Memphis International Airport is one of the nation's smallest airline hubs and is one of Northwest Airlines' three U.S. hubs, along with Minneapolis and Detroit.
  • Memphis is one of the nation's fastest-growing airports, with the airport expecting to complete the reconstruction of a taxiway next year and begin renovating the second parallel runway in 2002.
  • Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater praised the airport's World Runway, stating that airplanes move 3 percent of all tonnage in the United States but represent 45 percent of the value of goods.
  • The World Runway gives the airport three parallel runways, allowing for simultaneous arrivals and departures and increasing the airport's capacity to handle more planes.
  • FedEx has been instrumental in the airport's growth, having launched its largest single service expansion in its 75-year history seven years ago and operating out of Memphis International Airport since 1986.
  • The airport authority used a combination of revenue bonds, Airport Improvement Program funds, passenger facility charges, and a contribution from FedEx to fund the project.

Statistics:

  • The World Runway is 11,100 feet long, a 39% increase from its original length of 8,400 feet.
  • The project cost $110.4 million.
  • Memphis International Airport is one of the nation's fastest-growing airports, with plans for future renovations and expansions.
  • In June, Northwest launched its largest single service expansion in its 75-year history: 48 new departing flights and an equal number of arrivals.
  • Memphis International Airport has been the world's largest cargo airport for the past seven years, thanks to the presence of FedEx Express.

Sources:

  • The Commercial Appeal
  • James W. Brosnan, contributor to The Commercial Appeal
  • Richard Thompson, The Commercial Appeal Reporter
  • FedEx Express
  • Northwest Airlines
  • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
  • Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater
  • Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D-Tenn.)