Delays are possible after Midway Airport closed one of its four runways for repairs through mid-November, the Chicago Department of Aviation announced.
One end of Runway 22L is being repaired due to recent damage to the safety system that stops planes that overshoot it, the department said in a statement released late Monday. The system, called the Engineered Materials Arresting System, was damaged by “recent aircraft activity, including jet blast,” the department said.
“Safety is the top priority at Chicago’s airports, and we are working to complete these repairs safely and promptly,” CDA Commissioner Michael McMurray said in the statement. “We’re coordinating closely with our partners at the FAA and the airlines to reduce disruptions for travelers and return the airfield to normal operating conditions as quickly and safely as possible.”
The department says cancellations and delays are possible due to the closure, but that the extent of those disruptions will depend on airline schedules and weather conditions. The direction of the wind could play a role in delays, according to the department, since it affects which the airport’s four-runway network can be used for arrivals and departures.
The airport typically handles around 500 flights a day. By 4 p.m. Tuesday, there were 42 total delays and 1 cancellation over 24 hours, according to the Aviation Department, though it was unclear if any were tied to the runway closure.
