By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Commercial air service at the Hays Regional Airport will be halted for two weeks in August during reconstruction of the crosswind runway to bring it up to current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.
SkyWest air service will be temporarily suspended during this time and aircraft operations significantly limited.
Commercial flights will be paused Thursday, Aug. 3 through Sunday, Aug. 23, with the closures of the crosswind runway and the airport’s primary runway.
Heavy machinery and construction crews will be operating in the designated runway safety areas of the intersecting runways, necessitating the closure of the primary runway per FAA regulations so crews can safely work in that area, airport officials said.
To reduce future disruptions to airport operations, a portion of the taxiway that is showing significant signs of pavement deterioration will also be reconstructed.
Airport employees have urged travelers to check with their airlines to make any necessary adjustments to flight plans during the project.
The airport has worked with SkyWest and United to ensure the 21 days are unavailable for booking and that there is no need for unnecessary rebooking changes, according to information on its website.
Normal commercial flights will resume on Monday, Aug. 24 following required FAA special inspections and safety clearances.
Upgrading the crosswind runway will ensure that the airport can support the weight and operational requirements of newer and bigger aircraft planned in the future by SkyWest and United.
For questions regarding flights, visit flyhays.com or United.com or call 1-800-UNITED1.