Runways Re-open at Nashville International

Nashville International (BNA) is one of discount airline Southwest’s most important “megacities” - a mid-south nexus for the carrier –and thanks to the re-opening of runways, Southwest and other carriers will find flights to Nashville a little easier to navigate.

Runway 2R-20L had been closed for construction in an effort to comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulatory requirements that require upgrades the landing strip’s safety area.

At the same time, another of Nashville’s four runways has been out of operation – the longest runway at the airport, Runway 13-31. This runway is critical because it’s the crosswind runway, used when the prevailing wind shifts and aircraft land and take off into the wind. Runway 13-31 is set to re-open this December – it was also shut down for safety upgrades.

In the 1980s, Nashville was a significant domestic hub for American Airlines. AA’s presence at the airport has dwindled significantly since its BNA hub closed, but the carrier still provides a significant slice of the lift from the airport.

For those budding aviators looking for some in-depth explanation, the runway numbers correspond to the points of a compass. For example, runway 13-31 corresponds to 130 and 310 degrees of compass heading, respectively.

©Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler