“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.
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.
