London Stansted Airport: The Race Against Time To Resurface A Runway

A team of more than 200 engineers and technicians are halfway through a five-month project to resurface London Stansted Airport.

Work on the 1.9 mile-long (3km) runway - equivalent to the size of 25 football pitches - has to be timed meticulously overnight while fewer flights are scheduled.

How complicated are the works and how do the staff sustain 22 weeks of night shifts?

The Essex terminal underwent its last full resurfacing in 2006.

About 15 million passengers passed through its gates that year, compared with the 28 million expected this year.

It took three years to plan for this resurfacing project.

Neil Thomson, the airport asset development director, said: "Handling up to 50 aircraft movements an hour, the runway is obviously a key asset for the airport so it's critical it is maintained to the highest standard."

The engineering firm Lagan began the project on 8 January and is aiming to complete by 6 June.

Joe Rollerson is an electrician who joined the team as an aeronautical ground lighting technician.

"It's an amazing project - really interesting," said the 24-year-old.

"It was by coincidence I found the job and I took an interest straight away."

The team are working night shifts, with a difference.

They are on duty from 00:00-06:00 and for the first 11 weeks the runway was closed completely.

During the second half of the project, with greater demand for flights going into the Easter holidays, there is a reduced works schedule through the night, which ramps up from 05:00.

The team works on rotation.

"A project of this scale is very complex and clearly presents us with a number of operational challenges," said Mr Thomson.

"The whole project has been meticulously planned and we aim to complete the work as quickly and safely as possible."

Malachy Doyle, the project manager at Lagan, calculated they have 440 hours to get the job done.

"It's quite a unique feeling to have a plane landing over the top of you," said Mr Doyle.

"Literally every minute counts."

London Stansted Airport is preparing for its busiest Easter and summer season since before the pandemic.

Up to 600 planes are expected to take off every day this summer, flying to 190 destinations, with about 60 planes based on site.

Increasing customers will mean more revenue for the owner, Manchester Airport Group, which will strengthen its plans to expand passenger numbers to 43 million per year.

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk