Improvement work to Redding Regional Airport’s main runway will keep the commercial flight hub closed for nearly a month, starting on Sept. 23.
Before that happens, airport officials are scheduling a final meeting for residents to hear about the project and ask questions. The fifth and last meeting is open to the public and slated 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Redding City Hall, 777 Cypress Ave.
The airport will stay closed through Oct. 20 while crews resurface the runway and update lighting and pavement markings. A federal grant of more than $30 million is paying for the safety upgrades.
The airport will reopen to commercial flights on Oct. 21.
“We know this project poses a significant inconvenience to travelers, but making these repairs is essential to ensuring the airport’s continued function and success,” Airports Manager Andrew Solsvig said in a statement from the city on Aug. 27.
Two air carriers offer flights from Redding Regional Airport to four cities: Alaska Air Group flies direct to Seattle, while United Express flies direct to Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Passengers get ready to board the inaugural United Airlines flight from Redding Regional Airport to Denver International Airport on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
Solsvig has said fliers who need to make alternative travel plans due to the construction should call the airline or their travel agent, not the airport.
Janette Webber, co-owner of Avanti Travel in Redding, said the airline should give fliers the option, at no extra cost, to fly in and out of another airport if they have a trip booked during construction. Customers would have to use the same airline.
Or “you can cancel the whole trip and rebook it,” Webber said.
“If you cancel the whole thing, they are going to refund you. You would get that money back and then book at whatever the rate is, which could be more or less,” she said.
In early May, the Redding City Council awarded the runway project to Redding Airport Contractors, a joint venture of J.F. Shea Construction of Redding and DeSilva Gates Construction of Dublin in the East Bay.
The last time the runway was resurfaced was in 2001.
At the same time Redding Regional Airport’s main runway is being resurfaced, the airport’s parking lot will get the same treatment.
Solsvig said ideally the parking lot and runway projects will be completed at the same time.
The city has budgeted $1.5 million for the parking lot project. That includes engineering and design work.
To help pay for the parking lot project, Solsvig said daily rates will go from $10 to $12.
For more information, visit the city of Redding’s website for the airport runway project.
David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly “Buzz on the Street” column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Redding Regional Airport to close Sept. 23-Oct. 20 for runway updates