The DKX Runway Rehabilitation Project will include the reconstruction of the runway, full electrical, lighting and runway markings.

Update 3/20/23: The DKX Runway Improvement Project continues to move along as scheduled. Thank you for working with us to complete this project as quickly and as safely as possible. In order for the contractor to complete the work for final acceptance, a two-day closure of the runway and taxiways is required on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at 6:00 a.m. through Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at 8:00 p.m. No aircraft will be allowed on the runway or taxiways during this time. Be aware that this schedule is weather dependent and may be adjusted as necessary.

Update 1/26/23: Starting Monday (1/30/23), DKX will be open for 24-hour operations.  The FBO will be open from 7am until 10pm daily.  Self-service 100LL will be available on a 24-hour basis.

Update 1/11/23: On Thursday and Friday (1/12/23 and 1/13/23) the runway, taxiway, REIL, and PAPI lights will be on at DKX. The runway and taxiways will still be closed at night.  This is part of the construction and testing of the new lighting systems.  It does NOT indicate that DKX is ready to open for night operations.

Year-End Project Update: We are happy to report the DKX Runway, Taxiway, and Electrical Reconstruction project is on schedule. The DKX runway was closed from July 5, 2022, to September 6, 2022, for construction. During those activities, we are very pleased to report that Rogers Group was able to not only get the reconstructed runway pavement completed, but because of near perfect weather conditions and dedication of additional resources, they were also able to complete the taxiway pavements.

Since the daytime reopening of the runway in September, some electrical work has progressed at night. This was work in the safety areas that isn’t allowed on open runways. Two daytime closures of the runway were conducted in October and November to complete some of the electrical connections, grading, and seeding in the runway safety areas. The balance of work to be performed can be done while the runway is open and mainly consists of electrical work.

The airport will remain on the daytime operations schedule until completion and acceptance of the airfield electrical by the FAA. It is anticipated the project will be completed and the runway reopened for full operations in early 2023.

Update 11/22/22: The construction that required a temporary closure has now been completed on schedule.

Update 11/14/22: Due to forecasted inclement weather, the temporary closure of the DKX runway scheduled for this week has been postponed until Monday, November 21 and Tuesday, November 22. If you have any questions, please contact the DKX office at 865-577-4461.

Update 10/27/22: Due to the seasonal sunrise/sunset time changes, the runway and taxiways will be closed from 7:00 PM local to 8:00 AM local each day starting 10/28/22 and running through 11/6/22. We will adjust the opening and closing time again on Sunday (11/6/22) due to the start of Daylight Savings Time. The published NOTAM states the closure time in Zulu, which reads 2300-1200. These closures will be in effect until the completion and certification of our airfield electrical system, currently projected for January 2023. DKX’s FBO hours remain unchanged: opening at 7:00AM Local and closing at 7:00PM Local each day. For after-hours support, please call 865-342-3187. DKX is open for both VFR and IFR operations. The RNAV (GPS) RWY 26 and VOR-B can still both be used. The LOC RWY 26 is unusable until our electrical work is complete.

Update 10/18/22: The MKAA is planning two daytime runway closures as part of our continuing runway construction - one in October and one in November. As with any construction, these dates are weather dependent. We have a good weather forecast for next week and will be moving forward with our first of two closures. DKX will be closed Tuesday, October 25th and Wednesday, October 26th. The runway and all taxiways will close at 7:00PM Monday, October 24th and reopen at 7:00AM on Thursday, October 27th. While the runway and taxiways will be closed, our FBO will be open. Please come join us at the FBO both Tuesday and Wednesday for lunch and dinner. Lunch will be served from 12pm to 2pm and dinner will be served from 5pm to 7pm.

Update 8/24/22: Weather permitting, on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, at 8 a.m., the DKX runway will reopen and tenants will be able to return to the airport. See the August 24, 2022, update above for specific use-information. Click here for a more-detailed, tenant-focused update about the runway reconstruction.

Update 5/25/22: Click here for a more-detailed, tenant-focused update about the runway reconstruction.

Update 4/29/22: The DKX runway is scheduled to close on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, and is projected to reopen in September 2022 for daytime use. See the update below for specific use-information.

Update 4/7/22: Based upon the current project timeline and schedule, the DKX runway is scheduled to be closed in early July 2022 and reopen in September 2022 for daytime VFR use. After further discussions and coordination with the FAA and TDOT’s Aeronautics Division, we will be able to reopen in September for daytime VFR and IFR use that includes the RNAV (GPS) and VOR approaches.  The runway is still scheduled to be closed for nighttime work from September 2022 until project completion in early 2023.

Update 3/11/22: The Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority is actively working with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Aeronautics Division of the Tennessee Department of Transportation to evaluate the possibility of approving the daytime RNAV approach when the runway reopens following its temporary closure this summer. Currently, the runway is estimated to reopen for daytime operations only during September 2022 through January 2023. The MKAA anticipates having an update on this consideration within the next 30 days.

Update 2/24/22: Click here for a more-detailed, tenant-focused update about the runway reconstruction.