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

London Heathrow Airport

Compiled by Bill Gao

London, England (United Kingdom)

IATA: LHR ICAO: EGLL

Longest Active Runway

12,799 ft

3,901 meters

Field Elevation

83 ft

25 m MSL

Runway Inventory

2 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

51.4707°, -0.4599°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

How ranks work →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#100 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#160 of 7558

Top 2.1% percentile worldwide

National Standing (United Kingdom)

#1 of 5 in GB

#1 of 94 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+28%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 LHR in numbers: 12,799 ft longest runway · #100 of 650 published · #160 of 7,558 worldwide (top 2.1%) · #1 in United Kingdom.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: London Heathrow Airport (LHR)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

London Heathrow is internationally recognized as the world's most intensively utilized two-runway system. Operating within strict noise quotas and a dense urban airspace shared with five other commercial London airports, LHR relies on Time-Based Separation (TBS) on final approach to maintain throughput in high headwind conditions. Both paved runways exceed 12,000 ft, ensuring unrestricted all-weather heavy widebody recovery under UK Category IIIb low-visibility procedures.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Dual parallel east-west runways: 09L/27R (12,802 ft / 3,902 m) and 09R/27L (12,008 ft / 3,660 m).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Commissioned in 1946 on the site of Great West Aerodrome. The airport expanded through five passenger terminals, culminating in Terminal 5 in 2008 and Terminal 2 (The Queen's Terminal) in 2014, with perpetual planning debate surrounding a proposed third northwest runway.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Functions at 99% slot capacity as London's premier legacy and transatlantic hub, contrasting with single-runway point-to-point Gatwick (LGW) and low-cost gateway Stansted (STN).

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Implements runway alternation at 15:00 daily during westerly operations, switching landing and departure duties between 27L and 27R to grant noise respite to West London communities.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) · NATS Aeronautical Information Service (UK AIP Aerodromes)

Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Longest runway ≥10,500 ft

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Elevation & National Context

Lowland Aerodrome (<2,000 ft)

LHR lies at 25 m (83 ft), #460 of 650 published airports by elevation and 25.5 percentile among 7,558 worldwide. It is 174 ft below the United Kingdom median (257 ft, 5 airports); STN is highest at 348 ft, 265 ft higher than LHR.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

3 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

Closest of 3 paved-runway (≥5,000 ft) neighbours within 100 NM: London Gatwick Airport (LGW), 21.9 NM, 10,883 ft. Next: STN 35.9 NM, BHX 75.9 NM. LHR has the longest runway in this radius, 1,916 ft over LGW.

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Runway Inventory & National Standing

Primary Runway: 12,799 ft (3,901 m)

LHR runways: 09L/27R 12,799 × 164 ft asphalt (asp); 09R/27L 12,001 × 164 ft asphalt (asp). National standing: #1 of 5 in United Kingdom; 1,916 ft ahead of LGW (10,883 ft). +28% vs the 10,000 ft baseline.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
09L/27R	12,799 ft (3901 m / 3.901 km)	164 ft (50m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
09R/27L	12,001 ft (3658 m / 3.658 km)	164 ft (50m)	`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
London Gatwick Airport (London)	`LGW`	21.9 NM (40.6 km)	10,883 ft	✅ Lighted
London Stansted Airport (London, Essex)	`STN`	35.9 NM (66.5 km)	10,003 ft	✅ Lighted
Birmingham Airport (Birmingham, West Midlands)	`BHX`	75.9 NM (140.6 km)	10,013 ft	✅ Lighted

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