Bologna's Guglielmo Marconi Airport is to spend L380 billion ($207 million) expanding its capacity. A series of projects running up to 2006 will start next year, with the airport lengthening the main runway. Work to follow includes completion of a new terminal, additional taxiways and a bigger ramp. Last year saw the airport increase passenger traffic by 13% to 2.8 million. Sab, the company running the airport, is also working on a project to integrate its activities at Bologna with Forli, Parma and Rimini, three other airports in the vicinity. Continental Airlines has opened a $92 million expansion of its Cleveland, Ohio, hub. The Concourse D at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport provides 12 jet gates and 24 turboprop loading positions which can be converted to 12 additional jet gates. Hong Kong International Airport's second operational runway opened on 26 May. The 3,800m (12,500ft) north runway is the same length as the operational south runway, but 15m wider. Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport, Minnesota, has begun construction of a fourth runway, which will increase capacity by 25% when it becomes operational in 2003. The airport is also adding 20 new jet gates by 2002 and expects traffic to increase from 1998's 30.3 million passengers to more than 40 million by 2010. The South African National Defence Force staff council has agreed in principle to open the Waterkloof Air Force base to civilian traffic to fund operations. The air force has recently upgraded runways, taxiways and movement control buildings at the base. The airfield is capable of handling Boeing 747-400s, vying with Johannesburg International as the only airfield in the Gauteng region able to handle large aircraft. Go-ahead is subject to an environmental impact study. Air France has moved into the second half of Terminal 2F at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. The first section was opened last year. The terminal can handle 42% of the carrier's traffic at the airport.
Source: Flight International