Runway
Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →
IATA: ADL ICAO: YPAD
Longest Active Runway
10,171 ft
3,100 meters
Field Elevation
20 ft
6 m MSL
Runway Inventory
2 active
Lighted / Paved
Coordinates & Class
-34.9475°, 138.5334°
LARGE AIRPORT
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How ranks work → Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing
RunwayFacts Published Dataset
tied #512 of 650
In curated primary commercial index
Global Commercial Universe
#846 of 7558
Top 11.2% percentile worldwide
For airports with equal runway length, the worldwide order does not indicate a length difference.
National Standing (Australia)
#7 of 9 in AU
#9 of 537 in full national registry
vs Large Airport Median
+1.7%
Compared to 10,000 ft baseline
💡 ADL in numbers: 10,171 ft longest runway · tied #512 of 650 published · #846 of 7,558 worldwide (top 11.2%) · #7 in Australia.
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Curated Aerodrome Profile Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Adelaide International Airport (ADL)
Adelaide Airport (ADL) pairs a 10,171 ft (3,100 m) main runway, 05/23, with the 5,420 ft (1,652 m) Runway 12/30; the curfew runway pattern uses 05 for landings and 23 for take-offs. The field is 20 ft (6 m) above sea level.
Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments
Primary Runway 05/23 (10,171 ft / 3,100 m) and Runway 12/30 (5,420 ft / 1,652 m), both 148 ft wide asphalt.
Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities
Adelaide Airport officially opened at its current location on 16 February 1955; Terminal 1 opened in 2005, bringing international, domestic and regional flights under one roof.
Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role
Melbourne (MEL) is 346 NM to the east-southeast. Adelaide Airport Limited also operates Parafield Airport, 18 km away.
Data Nuances & Operational Quirks
A curfew under the Adelaide Airport Curfew Act 2000 runs from 11pm to 6am; during it aircraft should land on Runway 05 and take off on Runway 23 (Department of Infrastructure).
ADL vs national peers (RunwayFacts data)
- ADL's 10,171 ft runway is 833 ft below the median longest runway of the 9 published airports in Australia (11,004 ft).
- 6 of those 9 airports have two or more active runways; ADL has 2.
- Nearest published airport in Australia: Melbourne Avalon International Airport (AVV), 341 NM away, longest runway 10,000 ft, elevation 35 ft.
- Within the 650 published airports, ADL ranks tied #512 by runway length and #590 by elevation.
Sourced history & facilities
- Adelaide Airport officially opened at its current location on 16 February 1955; the first passenger terminal followed on 30 August 1957. [Adelaide Airport Limited — History]
- Terminal 1 opened in 2005, bringing international, domestic and regional flights under one roof. [Adelaide Airport Limited — History]
- Adelaide Airport Limited bought the operating leases for Adelaide and Parafield airports in May 1998 under a 50-year agreement with an option for a further 49 years; Parafield is 18 km away. [Adelaide Airport Limited — About us]
- The operator describes ADL as Australia's fifth-largest domestic and international airport, with more than 8.7 million passengers a year. [Adelaide Airport Limited — About us]
- A curfew under the Adelaide Airport Curfew Act 2000 runs from 11pm to 6am; during it aircraft should land on Runway 05 and take off on Runway 23. [Australian Government, Department of Infrastructure — Curfew at Adelaide Airport]
📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) · Airservices Australia Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP DAP)
Verification Methodology → 🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis
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Elevation & National Context
Lowland Aerodrome (<2,000 ft)
ADL lies at 6 m (20 ft), #590 of 650 published airports by elevation and 9.5 percentile among 7,558 worldwide. It is 11 ft below the Australia median (31 ft, 9 airports); MEL is highest at 434 ft, 414 ft higher than ADL.
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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)
0 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity
No published neighbour with a paved runway of 5,000 ft or more within 100 NM of ADL. Nearest published airport: Melbourne Avalon International Airport (AVV), 341 NM, 10,000 ft (171 ft shorter than ADL); none other within 250 NM.
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Runway Inventory & National Standing
Primary Runway: 10,171 ft (3,100 m)
ADL runways: 05/23 10,171 × 148 ft asphalt (asp); 12/30 5,420 × 148 ft asphalt (asp). National standing: #7 of 9 in Australia; SYD leads by 2,828 ft (12,999 ft). +1.7% vs the 10,000 ft baseline.
🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering
| Runway Designator | Length (ft / m) | Width (ft / m) | Surface Material | Lighting | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/23 | 10,171 ft (3100 m / 3.100 km) | 148 ft (45m) | Asphalt (ASP) | ✅ Lighted | ✅ Active |
| 12/30 | 5,420 ft (1652 m / 1.652 km) | 148 ft (45m) | Asphalt (ASP) | ✅ Lighted | ✅ Active |
🛡️ Source: OurAirports Open Aviation Database, snapshot 2026-09-01 · Provenance →