New attention focused on length of airport's runways

Several years ago, the region's top economic development officials and top business leaders rallied to lengthen the runways at Charleston International Airport.

Not having a runway longer than 10,000 feet -- they currently measure 7,000 and 9,000 feet long -- put the region at a major disadvantage, they argued, when courting companies to invest locally.

Even Boeing Co. officials acknowledged in internal documents that "lengthening of both runways would enhance our ability to conduct long-term cargo operations out of Charleston." A longer runway would allow cargo pilots to make fewer refueling stops when flying to their European operation in Italy and Everett, Wash., the aviation giant's manufacturing hub.

The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and Charleston County Aviation Authority pooled efforts to find $58.9 million to extend the shorter runway, a plan that crumbled when the recession hit.

Local Boeing spokeswoman Candy Eslinger said that the company's agreement to locate the second 787 Dreamliner assembly line in North Charleston was not contingent on the runway extension. But she added that her company's earlier stance about lengthening in the future still stands.

Chamber and aviation authority officials said Thursday that neither group is pursuing an extension, though they would if Boeing officials asked. The $450 million in state incentives passed by lawmakers earlier this week did not include money for extending the runways, said House Speaker Bobby Harrell.

The Air Force, which owns and operates the runways, is redoing the shorter runway. The longer runway is scheduled for repair in 2012, which would provide a natural window to extend it. The second assembly line is scheduled to open in mid-2011.