If you’re curious about the longest airport runways in the world, you’ve come to the right place. Runway length is a critical factor for airports, especially those dealing with large aircraft, high altitude, or extreme weather conditions.
This article covers the top 10 longest runways worldwide in 2025, their locations, lengths, and unique features that make them stand out.
Why Are Some Airport Runways So Long?
Runways vary in length depending on factors like elevation, temperature, and aircraft size. Airports at high altitudes or in hot climates often require longer runways because aircraft need more distance for takeoff and landing due to thinner or warmer air.
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1. Qamdo Bamda Airport (BPX), Tibet, China
- Runway Length: 5,500 meters (18,045 feet)
- Elevation: 4,400 meters (14,436 feet)
- Details: The world’s longest runway compensates for the reduced air density at high altitude, ensuring safe takeoffs and landings for both commercial and military flights.
2. Zhukovsky International Airport (ZIA), Moscow, Russia
- Runway Length: 5,400 meters (17,717 feet)
- Opened: 2016
- Details: A major hub for aerospace events and commercial flights, the runway supports heavy and large aircraft operations.
3. Shigatse Peace Airport (RKZ), Tibet, China
- Runway Length: 5,000 meters (16,404 feet)
- Elevation: 3,782 meters (12,408 feet)
- Details: This high-altitude runway serves dual purposes, accommodating military and civilian air traffic.
4. Ulyanovsk Vostochny Airport (ULY), Russia
- Runway Length: 5,000 meters (16,404 feet)
- Details: Initially designed for military aircraft testing, now a cargo and aircraft manufacturing hub.
5. Embraer Gavião Peixoto Airport, Brazil
- Runway Length: 4,967 meters (16,296 feet)
- Details: Owned by Embraer, this is the longest runway in the Americas, mainly used for aircraft testing.
6. Upington Airport (UTN), South Africa
- Runway Length: 4,900 meters (16,076 feet)
- Elevation: 851 meters (2,791 feet)
- Details: Supports Boeing 747s and long-haul cargo flights, especially in high temperature conditions.
7. Denver International Airport (DEN), USA
- Runway Length: 4,877 meters (16,000 feet)
- Elevation: 1,656 meters (5,434 feet)
- Details: The longest public commercial runway in North America, designed for high-altitude flights.
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8. Hamad International Airport (DOH), Qatar
- Runway Length: 4,850 meters (15,912 feet)
- Details: Qatar’s main international airport with facilities for the Airbus A380 and other large aircraft.
9. Madrid-Torrejón Airport (TOJ), Spain
- Runway Length: 4,818 meters (15,807 feet)
- Details: A combined military and civilian airport supporting NATO operations.
10. Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH), Namibia
- Runway Length: 4,532 meters (14,869 feet)
- Elevation: 1,707 meters (5,600 feet)
- Details: Namibia’s largest international airport, equipped to handle long-haul and high-altitude flights.
Summary
Understanding the longest airport runways worldwide helps appreciate the engineering efforts needed to accommodate modern aircraft safely. From the highest plateaus of Tibet to busy international hubs in Qatar and Russia, these runways play a crucial role in global air transportation.
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