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

Los Angeles International Airport

Compiled by Bill Gao

Los Angeles, California (United States)

IATA: LAX ICAO: KLAX

Longest Active Runway

12,894 ft

3,930 meters

Field Elevation

125 ft

38 m MSL

Runway Inventory

4 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

33.9425°, -118.4080°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

How ranks work →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#96 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#155 of 7558

Top 2.0% percentile worldwide

National Standing (United States)

#9 of 63 in US

#36 of 2020 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+28.9%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 LAX in numbers: 12,894 ft longest runway · #96 of 650 published · #155 of 7,558 worldwide (top 2.0%) · #9 in United States.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Los Angeles International Airport is North America's premier transpacific gateway, utilizing an intensive quad-runway architecture. Its separated north and south airfield complexes allow simultaneous parallel instrument approaches even during the coastal marine layer fog common to Southern California mornings. Runway 07L/25R measures 12,091 ft, accommodating maximum-payload departures to East Asia and Australasia, while center taxiway engineering prevents runway incursions between closely spaced parallel strips.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Four parallel east-west runways organized into two independent complexes: North Airfield (06L/24R, 06R/24L) and South Airfield (07L/25R, 07R/25L).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Opened in 1928 as Mines Field, expanding for the 1984 Summer Olympics with the iconic Theme Building and central terminal loop. Recent Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP) introduced an automated people mover and modernized the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Handles greater widebody traffic than all other Southern California basin aerodromes combined, contrasting with single-runway regional reliever Long Beach (LGB) and noise-restricted Burbank (BUR).

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Enforces strict 'Over-Ocean Operations' between midnight and 06:30, requiring arrivals from the west over Santa Monica Bay and departures to the west over the Pacific Ocean to shield residential inland neighborhoods from nocturnal noise.

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

LAX lies at 38 m (125 ft), #418 of 650 published airports by elevation and 30.7 percentile among 7,558 worldwide. It is 482 ft below the United States median (607 ft, 63 airports); COS is highest at 6,187 ft, 6,062 ft higher than LAX.

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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: Long Beach International Airport (LGB), 14.9 NM, 10,000 ft. Next: ONT 40.7 NM, SBD 59 NM, PSP 95 NM. LAX has the longest runway in this radius, 697 ft over ONT.

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Runway Inventory & National Standing

Primary Runway: 12,894 ft (3,930 m)

LAX runways: 7L/25R 12,894 × 150 ft concrete (con); 7R/25L 11,095 × 200 ft concrete (con); 6R/24L 10,859 × 150 ft concrete (con); 6L/24R 8,926 × 150 ft concrete (con). National standing: #9 of 63 in United States; DEN leads by 3,106 ft (16,000 ft). +28.9% vs the 10,000 ft baseline.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
7L/25R	12,894 ft (3930 m / 3.930 km)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
7R/25L	11,095 ft (3382 m / 3.382 km)	200 ft (61m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
6R/24L	10,859 ft (3310 m / 3.310 km)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
6L/24R	8,926 ft (2721 m / 2.721 km)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ 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
Long Beach International Airport (Long Beach)	`LGB`	14.9 NM (27.6 km)	10,000 ft	✅ Lighted
Ontario International Airport (Ontario)	`ONT`	40.7 NM (75.4 km)	12,197 ft	✅ Lighted
San Bernardino International Airport (San Bernardino)	`SBD`	59 NM (109.3 km)	10,000 ft	✅ Lighted
Palm Springs International Airport (Palm Springs)	`PSP`	95 NM (175.9 km)	10,000 ft	✅ Lighted

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