RDU Airport, N.C. – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority’s Airport Layout Plan (ALP), marking the final step in the airport’s master planning process. The decision allows the Airport Authority to begin work on more than $2.7 billion in aviation infrastructure and amenities identified in the Vision 2040 Master Plan.
“Vision 2040 is our bold vision for the future of Raleigh-Durham International Airport,” said Airport Authority President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Landguth. “We will invest billions in aviation infrastructure, creating jobs and connecting the Triangle to the globe. We will also enhance the traveler experience with new technology, amenities and strengthened security. The future is now at RDU.”
The Vision 2040 master plan looked at every square inch of RDU, inside and out. It is the culmination of nearly two years of intense study and community conversation about the airport’s future and how to keep pace with growing aviation demands in the Triangle region. Projects included in Vision 2040 include airfield, terminal, landside and support facilities. The Airport Authority engaged with the community throughout the process. RDU hosted 10 public workshops, created a website to collect community feedback and share documents about the plan. Learn more about Vision 2040.
The Airport Authority is working on several significant Vision 2040 projects now, including:
- Taxiway Alpha Rehabilitation
- Taxiway Foxtrot Rehabilitation
- Consolidated Rental Car Facility Program Definition and Preliminary Design
- ParkRDU Economy 3 Expansion Schematic Design
- Preliminary Design for the Runway 5L/23R Replacement Program
The Airport Authority will determine the future sequencing of all Vision 2040 projects including the replacement of the airport’s primary runway 5L/23R, which is nearing the end of its useful life. Each associated project is subject to board approval.
About the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority
The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority and its 320 staff operates and manages Raleigh-Durham International Airport, the primary air travel gateway to central North Carolina. The airport served more than 11 million passengers in 2016, about 30,000 customers every day. RDU is home to more than 5,000 employees and contributes more than $8.5 billion and 20,000 jobs to the region’s economy each year. The Airport Authority has won the Triangle Business Journal’s Heathiest Employer of the Triangle for three consecutive years. RDU was also named the best connected medium hub airport by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s International Center for Aviation in 2016 and 2017.
* The FAA’s approval comes with the condition that all projects depicted in the ALP are subject to federal environmental review.