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

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

Compiled by Bill Gao

Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas (United States)

IATA: DFW ICAO: KDFW

Longest Active Runway

13,401 ft

4,085 meters

Field Elevation

607 ft

185 m MSL

Runway Inventory

7 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

32.8968°, -97.0380°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

How ranks work →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#42 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#77 of 7558

Top 1.0% percentile worldwide

National Standing (United States)

#6 of 63 in US

#24 of 2020 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+34%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 DFW in numbers: 13,401 ft longest runway · #42 of 650 published · #77 of 7,558 worldwide (top 1.0%) · #6 in United States.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is a titanic masterpiece of airfield planning. Spanning a land area larger than the island of Manhattan, DFW's seven-runway layout virtually eliminates airborne holding delays. Its four primary parallel runways each extend beyond 13,400 ft, allowing American Airlines to dispatch ultra-long-haul widebodies to Australia, Asia, and Europe under searing Texas summer temperatures without payload penalties.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Seven active runways: five north-south parallels 17L/35R (8,500 ft), 17C/35C (13,401 ft), 17R/35L (13,400 ft), 18L/36R (13,400 ft), 18R/36L (13,400 ft) plus two diagonal crosswinds 13L/31R (9,000 ft) and 13R/31L (9,301 ft).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Opened in 1974 across 17,000 acres midway between Dallas and Fort Worth. Developed into American Airlines' mega-fortress hub, pioneering curved semi-circular terminals and automated Skylink transit.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

World's second-busiest airport by aircraft movements, dwarfing urban neighbor Dallas Love Field (DAL, 10 NM east).

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Capable of simultaneous quad-parallel instrument approaches during peak arrival banks, with four runways exceeding 13,400 ft in length.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) · FAA Form 5010-1 Airport Master Record & NFDC Surveyed Aeronautical Data · AirNav DFW Master Record ↗

Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Longest runway ≥10,500 ft

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Elevation & National Context

Lowland Aerodrome (<2,000 ft)

DFW lies at 185 m (607 ft), #258 of 650 published airports by elevation and 55 percentile among 7,558 worldwide. It is equal to the United States median; COS is highest at 6,187 ft, 5,580 ft higher than DFW.

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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 DFW. Nearest published airport: Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), 165 NM, 12,250 ft (1,151 ft shorter than DFW); 3 within 250 NM.

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Runway Inventory & National Standing

Primary Runway: 13,401 ft (4,085 m)

DFW runways: 18L/36R 13,401 × 200 ft concrete (con); 17C/35C 13,400 × 150 ft concrete (con); 17R/35L 13,400 × 200 ft concrete (con); 18R/36L 13,400 × 150 ft concrete (con); 13R/31L 9,300 × 150 ft concrete (con); 13L/31R 9,000 × 200 ft concrete (con); 17L/35R 8,500 × 150 ft concrete (con). National standing: #6 of 63 in United States; DEN leads by 2,599 ft (16,000 ft). +34% vs the 10,000 ft baseline.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
18L/36R	13,401 ft (4085 m / 4.085 km)	200 ft (61m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
17C/35C	13,400 ft (4084 m / 4.084 km)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
17R/35L	13,400 ft (4084 m / 4.084 km)	200 ft (61m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
18R/36L	13,400 ft (4084 m / 4.084 km)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
13R/31L	9,300 ft (2835 m / 2.835 km)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
13L/31R	9,000 ft (2743 m / 2.743 km)	200 ft (61m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
17L/35R	8,500 ft (2591 m / 2.591 km)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active

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