"A mile of highway will take you just one mile...but a mile of runway will take you anywhere!"
Several factors determine the length of a runway, including the elevation, temperature and aircraft type, among other factors. Environmental factors play a crucial role in determining the length of a runway.
Pilots calculate the length of runway required based on fuel, take-off weight, elevation, and temperature for their respective aircraft. The aircraft's take-off weight is one of the significant factors determining the runway length.
This post shares the World's longest and shortest runway at commercial airports.
Longest Runways at Commercial Airport
1. Shigatse Peace Airport, China and Ulyanovsk Vostochny Airport, Russia
At 5,000 meters, China's Shigatse Peace Airport has the longest runway in the world. The airport is located at an altitude of 3,782 meters (12,408 feet) and serves Shigatse in Tibet Autonomous Region.
The airport serves both as a public and military airport. China Eastern Airlines, Tibet Airlines and West Air operate regularly scheduled flights in and out of Shigatse Peace Airport.
Along with Shigatse Airport, tied at number one is Russia's Ulyanovsk Vostochny Airport. Ulyanovsk Airport, situated at an elevation of 77 meters (253 feet), also has the longest runway at 5,000 meters.
Ulyanovsk Airport serves as a hub for Volga-Dnepr Airlines, which operates a unique fleet of twelve Antonov An-124, five Boeing 747-8F and five IL-76TD-90VD (Stage IV). Antonov An-124 and Tupolev Tu-204 manufacturers' are also located at this airport.
2. Embraer Unidade Gavião Peixoto Airport, Brazil
Located at an elevation of 603 meters (1,978 feet), Brazil's Embraer Unidade Gavião Peixoto Airport has the second-longest runway at 4,967 meters. It is also the longest public use runway in the Americas. It is wholly owned and operated by the Brazilian manufacturer, Embraer.
The airport is used by Embraer for flight testing. The manufacturer has the final assembly of Phenom 100 and Phenom 300 at the airport. It also manufactures parts of other aircraft.
3. Upington Airport, South Africa
At 4,900 meters, Upington Airport has one of the longest runways at a commercial airport. The airport was designed to accommodate Boeing 747 with maximum payload. The airport is situated at an elevation of 851 meters (2,791 feet) and has an extremely high temperature in summer.
Airlink is the only airline operating regularly scheduled passenger flights in and out of Upington Airport. Multiple airlines also operate non-scheduled charter flights in and out of the airport as it serves as an international cargo hub.
4. Denver International Airport, United States
The largest airport in North America by land area has one of the longest runways in the world at 4,877 meters. It is the longest runway in North America available for public use. Situated at an altitude of 1,656 meters (5,434 feet), Denver Airport serves Colorado and the greater Front Range Urban Corridor.
Denver Airport serves as a hub for Frontier Airlines and United Airlines. It also serves as a focus city hub for Southwest Airlines. The airport has flights to 215 destinations making it the fourth US airport to exceed 200 destinations.
Shortest Runways at Commercial Airport
A longer runway will surely help with safety during unfavourable weather conditions and emergency situations.
"Longer the runway, better the take-off!"
However, not all airports have sufficient space and architecture for a longer runway, yet still handle regular flights. Some airports are so small in size that they appear just like landing strips. Here are some of the shortest runways.
1. Westray Airport, Scotland
Situated at an elevation of 9 meters (29 feet), Westray Airport has the shortest runway at just 291 meters. The airport is widely known as one of the two airports joined by the shortest regular scheduled flight between Westray and Papa Westray Airport.
Orkney Islands Council operates the airport, and Loganair is the only airline operating regularly scheduled flights in and out of Westray Airport. Loganair operates regular flights to Kirkwall and Papa Westray from this airport.
2. Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, Caribbean
At 400 meters, Juancho Airport has the shortest paved runway in the world. The airport is located at an altitude of 18 meters (60 feet) and serves the Dutch Caribbean island of Saba.
Only STOL aircraft can land at the airport and is closed to jet traffic. The common aircraft to operate in and out of the airport are de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter and BN-2 Islander. Winair operates both scheduled as well as charter flights out of Juancho Airport.
3. Helgoland Airport, Germany
Situated at an elevation of just 2 meters (7 feet) on the German island of Düne, Helgoland Airport has one of the shortest runways at 480 meters. Only small commuter aircraft operate in and out of Helgoland Airport.
German regional airline OFD Ostfriesischer-Flug-Dienst is the only airline operating scheduled flights in and out of Helgoland Airport.
4. Tenzing–Hillary Airport, Nepal
At 527 meters, Tenzing-Hillary Airport has one of the shortest runways in the world. The airport is widely known as the starting point for trekking to Mt. Everest and has been named in honour of Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hilary, the first two people who successfully climbed Mount Everest.
The airport is often referred to as one of the most dangerous airports globally due to high winds, cloud cover, sudden loss in visibility and the low prospect of a go-around due to its challenging topography. Every inch is precious to pilots flying in and out of the Lukla, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has set high standards for pilots.
Multiple Nepalese airlines operate regular flights between Kathmandu and Lukla with regional turboprops like Twin Otter, Dornier 228 and LET-410.
5. Courchevel Altiport, France
Situated at an elevation of 2,008 meters (6,588 feet) in the French French Alps, Courchevel Altiport has a runway of only 537 meters (1,762 feet). As the airport is built on the side of a mountain, there is no go-around procedure. The instrument approach procedure is also unavailable at the airport.
Alpine Airlines is the only airline operating scheduled flights to Courchevel Altiport. The airport is mainly served by de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters and DHC-7 Dash 7 turboprops.
Do you know any other airport that has a very short or long runway? Share it in the comment section.