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

Singapore Changi Airport

Compiled by Bill Gao

Singapore, South East (Singapore)

IATA: SIN ICAO: WSSS

Longest Active Runway

13,123 ft

4,000 meters

Field Elevation

22 ft

7 m MSL

Runway Inventory

2 active

1 closed, Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

1.3502°, 103.9940°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

How ranks work →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

tied #56 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#133 of 7558

Top 1.8% percentile worldwide

For airports with equal runway length, the worldwide order does not indicate a length difference.

National Standing (Singapore)

#1 of 1 in SG

#1 of 4 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+31.2%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 SIN in numbers: 13,123 ft longest runway · tied #56 of 650 published · #133 of 7,558 worldwide (top 1.8%) · #1 in Singapore.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Singapore Changi Airport represents the international benchmark for aerodrome efficiency, passenger transit, and heavy transcontinental connectivity. Positioned at 22 ft MSL in the equatorial tropics, dense humid air provides solid baseline engine thrust and aerodynamic lift. Its parallel 13,123 ft (4,000 m) paved surfaces routinely handle the highest-density widebody operations in the Asia-Pacific region, accommodating maximum takeoff weight Airbus A350-900ULR flights operating non-stop to the US East Coast.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Three parallel northeast-southwest runways: 02L/20R (13,123 ft / 4,000 m), 02C/20C (13,123 ft / 4,000 m), and 02R/20L (13,123 ft / 4,000 m, integrated into the Changi East expansion).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Opened in July 1981 on reclaimed land, replacing the constrained Paya Lebar Airport (QPG). Successively added Terminal 2 (1990), Terminal 3 (2008), the automated Terminal 4 (2017), and the Jewel lifestyle complex (2019). The Changi East project extends operations with a third 4,000 m runway and the future Terminal 5.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Acts as Southeast Asia's preeminent intercontinental mega-hub, contrasting with regional secondary gateways Johor Bahru Senai (JHB, 26 NM northwest across the Johor Strait) and Batam Hang Nadim (BTH, 16 NM south across the Singapore Strait).

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Operates continuous CAT II/III precision approaches in equatorial intertropical convergence conditions characterized by sudden convective thunderstorms and low visibility downpours. Strict over-water departure procedures guide flights safely over the Singapore Strait and South China Sea.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) · Aeronautical Information Services (Singapore AIP)

Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Longest runway ≥10,500 ft

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Elevation & National Context

Lowland Aerodrome (<2,000 ft)

SIN lies at 7 m (22 ft), #579 of 650 published airports by elevation and 10.7 percentile among 7,558 worldwide.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

2 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

Closest of 2 paved-runway (≥5,000 ft) neighbours within 100 NM: Hang Nadim International Airport (BTH), 15.7 NM, 13,218 ft. Next: JHB 26.1 NM. BTH has the radius's longest runway, 95 ft more than SIN.

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Runway Inventory & National Standing

Primary Runway: 13,123 ft (4,000 m)

SIN runways: 02C/20C 13,123 × 197 ft permanent paved (pem); 02L/20R 13,123 × 197 ft permanent paved (pem). +31.2% vs the 10,000 ft baseline.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
02C/20C	13,123 ft (4000 m / 4.000 km)	197 ft (60m)	`Permanent Paved (PEM)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
02R/20L	13,123 ft (4000 m / 4.000 km)	197 ft (60m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	⛔ Closed
02L/20R	13,123 ft (4000 m / 4.000 km)	197 ft (60m)	`Permanent Paved (PEM)`	✅ 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
Hang Nadim International Airport (Batam)	`BTH`	15.7 NM (29.1 km)	13,218 ft	✅ Lighted
Senai International Airport (Johor Bahru)	`JHB`	26.1 NM (48.3 km)	12,467 ft	✅ Lighted

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