Progress at Waterford Airport as old lighting is removed and a new name is given to the expanded runway

The expansion of the Waterford Airport runway has entered its next phase.

A large amount of machinery has been on site since runway works commenced in June.

The runway has remained closed to all aircraft with the exception of the Irish Coastguard Rescue 117 helicopter.

With the new Search and Rescue helipad coming into operation last week, the runway is now fully closed, allowing works to start on the runway surface itself, Waterford Aviation said in an update.

A major operation to remove more than 250 airfield lighting fittings from across the airfield has commenced.

Meanwhile, the group added that when the new runway opens in 2027, it will be given a new name.

The old runway, known as Runway 03/21, will now be known as Runway 02/20.

Airport runway names are based on the direction an aircraft faces during take-off or landing. Each runway is assigned a number reference to the nearest 10-degree magnetic heading, with the last zero removed.

The decision to change the name of Waterford's runway is due to the gradual shift in magnetic variation over time, which has changed the runway’s magnetic direction, Waterford Aviation said.