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Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

Brussels South Charleroi Airport

Compiled by Bill Gao

Charleroi, Hainaut Province (Belgium)

IATA: CRL ICAO: EBCI

Longest Active Runway

10,023 ft

3,055 meters

Field Elevation

614 ft

187 m MSL

Runway Inventory

1 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

50.4620°, 4.4596°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

How ranks work →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#539 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#880 of 7558

Top 11.6% percentile worldwide

National Standing (Belgium)

#3 of 3 in BE

#4 of 7 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+0.2%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 CRL in numbers: 10,023 ft longest runway · #539 of 650 published · #880 of 7,558 worldwide (top 11.6%) · #3 in Belgium.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Brussels South Charleroi Airport is a premier case study in low-cost airline base economics. Positioned on the elevated Walloon plateau at 614 ft MSL, CRL's extended 8,366 ft runway accommodates fully loaded Boeing 737-8200 and Airbus A320 flights throughout the Mediterranean and North Africa. Modern CAT III instrument guidance ensures high winter punctuality during damp European low-ceiling conditions.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Single paved Runway 06/24 (8,366 ft / 2,550 m).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Originated as a flying school in 1919; transformed in the late 1990s when Ryanair established its first continental European operational base here. Extended runway to 2,550m in 2021.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Premier low-cost alternative to Brussels Airport (BRU, 30 NM north), serving Belgium, northern France, and Luxembourg.

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

High runway occupancy pressure demands rapid braking and swift roll-out onto high-speed exit taxiways to sustain 30-minute low-cost carrier aircraft turnarounds.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Belgium National Civil Aviation Authority · State Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) & ICAO Annex 14 Standards

Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Longest runway 8,000–10,499 ft

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Elevation & National Context

Lowland Aerodrome (<2,000 ft)

CRL lies at 187 m (614 ft), #257 of 650 published airports by elevation and 55.2 percentile among 7,558 worldwide. It is 439 ft above the Belgium median (175 ft, 3 airports) and the highest published airport in the country.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

4 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

Closest of 4 paved-runway (≥5,000 ft) neighbours within 100 NM: Brussels Airport (BRU), 26.4 NM, 11,936 ft. Next: EIN 68.7 NM, OST 74.7 NM, LUX 84.1 NM. LUX has the radius's longest runway, 3,100 ft more than CRL.

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Runway Inventory & National Standing

Primary Runway: 10,023 ft (3,055 m)

CRL runway: 06/24 10,023 × 148 ft asphalt (asp). National standing: #3 of 3 in Belgium; BRU leads by 1,913 ft (11,936 ft). +0.2% vs the 10,000 ft baseline.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
06/24	10,023 ft (3055 m / 3.055 km)	148 ft (45m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active

🧭 Comparative Aerodromes (100 NM Radius, ≥5,000 ft Paved)

Great-circle Haversine spatial proximity matching for commercial facilities with paved runway capacity within 100 NM.

Aerodrome Name	IATA	Distance	Longest Runway	Lighting
Brussels Airport (Zaventem)	`BRU`	26.4 NM (48.9 km)	11,936 ft	✅ Lighted
Eindhoven Airport (Eindhoven)	`EIN`	68.7 NM (127.2 km)	9,843 ft	✅ Lighted
Ostend-Bruges International Airport (Oostende)	`OST`	74.7 NM (138.3 km)	10,499 ft	✅ Lighted
Luxembourg-Findel International Airport (Luxembourg)	`LUX`	84.1 NM (155.8 km)	13,123 ft	✅ Lighted

🛡️ Source: OurAirports Open Aviation Database, snapshot 2026-09-01 · Provenance →