This article will show you examples of runway length for various airports around the world.
Not all runways are the same with respect to length and width, and they can vary depending on their location and aircraft requirements.
Small runways are suitable for smaller aircraft that don’t require a long takeoff or landing distance.
Just the opposite goes for larger aircraft where some require very long runway lengths.
When you are done reading this article, check out some interesting facts about airplanes and tire sizes here.
Runway length chart
*Length of the longest runway shown
| Airport | Runway | Length |
|---|---|---|
| London Heathrow | 09L/27R | 12,802 feet / 3902 meters |
| Toronto Lester B Pearson | 05-23 | 11,120 feet / 3390 meters |
| New York JFK | 13R/31L | 14,511 feet / 4423 meters |
| Los Angeles LAX | 7L/25R | 12,923 feet / 3939 meters |
| Santiago Chile | 17R/35L | 12,467 feet / 3800 meters |
| Toronto City Billy Bishop | 08/26 | 3988 feet / 1216 meters |
| Keflavik Iceland | 11/29 | 10,056 feet / 3065 meters |
| Berlin Brandenburg | 07R/25L | 13,123 feet / 4000 meters |
| Dublin Ireland | 10R/28L | 8652 feet / 2637 meters |
| Bangladesh Airport | 14/32 | 11,500 feet / 3505 meters |
| San Jose International | 12L/30R | 11,000 feet / 3353 meters |
1. London Heathrow Airport
Heathrow Airport in London England is a large international airport that ranks #2 in the world for international passenger traffic.
Heathrow airport handles over 80 million passengers each year.
For an airport of this size, it only has 2 runways.
- Runway 09R/27L is 12,008 feet or 3660 meters long.
- Runway 09L/27R is 12802 feet or 3902 meters long.
2. Toronto Lester B. Pearson Airport
Toronto Canada is home to the largest airport in the country. It is also the busiest airport in the country which handles over 50 million passengers each year.
The following 5 runways are used at Toronto Lester B. Pearson airport.
- Runway 06L-24R is 9697 feet or 2956 meters long.
- Runway 06R-24L is 9000 feet or 2744 meters long.
- Runway 15L-33R is 11,050 feet or 3369 meters long.
- Runway 15R-33L is 9088 feet or 2770 meters long.
- Runway 05-23 is 11,120 feet or 3390 meters long.
Here is an image of the longest runway at the Toronto Airport, runway 23.
3. New York JFK Airport
The John F Kennedy airport in New York USA is the 20th busiest airport in the world and 6th busiest in the USA.
- Runway 4L/22R is 12,079 feet or 3682 meters long.
- Runway 4R/22L is 8400 feet or 2560 meters long.
- Runway 13L/31R is 10,000 feet or 3048 meters long.
- Runway 13R/31L is 14,511 feet long or 4423 meters long.
Here is an image of runway 13R at JFK airport.
4. Los Angeles LAX
Los Angeles International Airport is the world’s third busiest airport which handles over 88 million passengers every year.
There are 4 runways currently in use at LAX.
- Runway 6L/24R is 8926 feet or 2721 meters long
- Runway 6R/24L is 10,885 feet or 3318 meters long.
- Runway 7L/25R is 12,923 feet or 3939 meters long.
- Runway 7R/25L is 11,095 feet or 3382 meters long.
Here is runway 25R at LAX airport.
5. Santiago Chile Airport
The Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport is located in Santiago, Chile is the largest and busiest airport in the country.
There are 2 long runways at this airport and both are the same length.
- Runway 17R/35L is 12,467 feet or 3800 meters long.
- Runway 17L/35R is 12,467 feet or 3800 meters long.
Here is an image of runway 17L at the Santiago Chile Airport.
6. Toronto City – Billy Bishop Airport
The Billy Bishop airport is located on an island just outside the city of Toronto Canada. It is also known as the Toronto island airport.
The main use of this airport is for air ambulance, regional airlines, civil aircraft.
The runways are shorter than some international airports and used by smaller aircraft.
- Runway 06/24 is 2460 feet or 750 meters long.
- Runway 08/26 is 3988 feet or 1216 meters long.
7. Keflavik, Iceland International Airport
The Keflavík Airport is the largest airport in the country and handles most of the international passenger traffic.
The airport has 3 runways but only 2 are currently in use. Both runways are longer and can handle large aircraft.
- Runway 02/20 is 10,020 feet or 3054 meters long.
- Runway 11/29 is 10,056 feet or 3065 meters long.
Here is an image of runway 31 before it was changed to runway 29 at Keflavik Airport in Iceland.
8. Berlin Brandenburg Airport
The Berlin Brandenburg Airport is located outside of Berlin Germany. It is the country’s third-busiest airport and handles around 34 million passengers each year.
There are 2 runways operating at Berlin airport including one of the longest runways in the world.
- Runway 07L/25R is 11,811 feet or 3600 meters long.
- Runway 07R/25L is 13,123 feet or 4000 meters long.
9. Dublin Airport
The airport in Dublin, Ireland is located just north of the city of Dublin and is the largest airport in the country. This airport has the most passenger traffic in Ireland with over 30 million passengers per year.
There are 2 runways used by commercial aircraft at the Dublin airport.
- Runway 10R/28L is 8652 feet or 2637 meters long.
- Runway 16/34 is 6798 feet or 2072 meters long.
Here is an image of runway 10 at the Dublin Airport.
10. Bangladesh Airport
The Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is located in Bangladesh and is the largest airport in the country. The airport handles close to 200 flights every day and over 9 million passengers per year.
There is only 1 runway available at this airport but it is a long one.
- Runway 14/32 is 11,500 feet or 3505 meters long.
11. San Jose International Airport
The Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport is located in San Jose,California USA. It sits within 3 miles of the downtown area.
An interesting fact about this airport is that over 63% of it’s passenger traffic in 2018 was from only 2 airlines. Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines.
There are 2 long runways at the San Jose International Airport. Both have the same length.
- Runway 12L/30R is 11,000 feet or 3353 meters long.
- Runway 12R/30L is 11,000 feet or 3353 meters long.
Here is an image of parallel runways 12L/R at the San Jose Airport.
What do the airport runway numbers mean?
The numbers you see at the beginning and end of a runway is based on the magnetic direction or heading with respect to a compass.
For example, the San Jose International Airport mentioned above has runway 12L and 30R. This means that the runway is positioned at a direction of 120 degrees at one end and the other end is pointed at 300 degrees which is 180 degrees in the opposite direction.
The L and R mean that there are parallel runways and are positioned side by side. One is on the left and one is on the right.
Image showing compass and airport runway direction.
