The Roadway on the Active Runway;
Gibraltar International Airport
Few airports in the world have such a line up of extreme conditions as Gibraltar does. Not only does the runway straddle an international border, sits at the precipice of two continents, surrounded on both ends by water, it also has a roadway transporting international traffic crossing it.
Winston Churchill Avenue is the main artery connecting Gibraltar with its only land access to Europe via its international border with Spain. Thousands of people cross the top of this active runway daily at Gibraltar Airport.
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Currently Gibraltar receives daily commercial flights from carriers British Airways and easyJet flying out of the United Kingdom. Private jets and stunning Royal Air Force aircraft are also seen here.
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Gibraltar Airport might seem small, however, in 2019 the airport reported 4,382 aircraft movements with a total of 491,000+ passengers according to the airports website. Many of these passengers landing and departing at Gibraltar Airport more than likely crossed over the active runway shortly after landing or just before departing from Gibraltar.
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Thousands of poeple cross this runway daily. Ranging from workers, tourists and local citizens, the roadway is busy both day and night. Cars, trucks, motorcycles and busses cross the airport runway via Winston Churchill Avenue at all hours. Pedestrians, bicyclists and scooters have desiganted lanes next to the runway for crossing over the aiport tarmac.
Due to its international border with Spain, the roadway is consitently busy moving supplies, cargo, and people. Every single time a plane lands or departs at Gibraltar this roadway must be closed down to all traffic.
Bystanders can get up close views of the planes passing directly in front of them when these planes land, taxi, and depart at Gibraltar Airport.
Moments after a plane departs or lands, people get the chance to cross the runway directly where the aircraft just passed over.
The roadway atop the runway is just one factor of which makes Gibraltar Airport unique and extreme.
Despite the fact that this roadway can cause significant logistical problems, the airport staff, military and law enforcement do an excellent duty keeping the runway moving along smoothly each day.
Plans are currently in the works to divert vehicle traffic under the runway via a tunnel. Although vehicle traffic will be diverted via the tunnel, it appears pedestrian traffic will still be able to and have the opportunity to cross the of the tarmac after the tunnel is complete.
For the airplane enthusiast walking across the Gibraltar Airport runway is nothing short of exhilarating. If you have the opportunity to visit this airport and experience it for yourself, you will not be disappointed.
Be sure to check out Ministry of Flight on YouTube for more videos of planes landing and departing at this dangerous airport. Also check out THE SPAIN GIBRALTAR CHANNEL for helpful information about travel to Gibraltar and Spain.
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If you are planning a trip to Gibraltar and are landing or departing from the airport leave a comment on a youtube video and I will do my best to film the plane as a memory for you.
Flying To Gibraltar
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