Temporary flight path changes from airport construction

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) will close the south parallel runway at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) this spring and late summer for runway safety improvements and other airfield projects. The construction work will occur in two phases on Runway 12R-30L, MSP’s 10,000-foot, east-west parallel runway located on the south side of Terminal 1.

Ward 12 residents, especially those near 46th Street and 43rd Street, might notice more airplane noise during construction. Some flights will be rerouted to Runway 4, a runway that is rarely used, to accommodate work on the south parallel runway (Runway 12R).

The first phase began Monday, April 14, and continues through May 23. The second phase will occur between Aug. 18 and Sept. 26. This approach allows the runway to be fully open for the majority of the peak summer travel season. The closure will allow for runway grading, drainage and shoulder improvements as well as the reconstruction of Taxiway D near Taxiway W. 

“The improvements are essential to maintain runway safety and extend the efficiency of our operations in the long term,” said Roy Fuhrmann, COO of the MAC, which owns and operates MSP. “With this closure, air traffic control can assign flights to any of MSP’s three other runways depending on wind direction, air traffic demand, or other operational factors.”

That means nearby residents may notice temporary changes to departing or arriving flight patterns at MSP. During the summer pause, and once the runway construction work is fully completed this fall, the Federal Aviation Administration will return MSP to its pre-construction operational patterns.

This is the second consecutive year of runway construction at MSP. The airport’s north parallel runway, 12L-30R, and the crosswind runway, 4-22, were temporarily closed in 2024 for reconstruction and other safety improvements.

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) will keep residents updated during these projects. You can check flight patterns and runway information on the MAC FlightTracker or their website.

Contact the MAC Community Relations Office at 612-726-9411 for help with questions about noise, flight changes, or construction impacts.

Read the the FAQs on Metropolitan Airport Commissions website.