⚠️ Reference data only, not for flight planning. Full notice →
← Home / Airports / United States
Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

Salt Lake City International Airport

Compiled by

Salt Lake City, Utah (United States)
IATA: SLC ICAO: KSLC
Longest Active Runway
12,002 ft
3,658 meters
Field Elevation
4,227 ft
1,288 m MSL
Runway Inventory
4 active
Lighted / Paved
Coordinates & Class
40.7889°, -111.9799°
LARGE AIRPORT
🏆

Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

How ranks work →
RunwayFacts Published Dataset
#187 of 650
In curated primary commercial index
Global Commercial Universe
#293 of 7558
Top 3.9% percentile worldwide
National Standing (United States)
#19 of 63 in US
#59 of 2020 in full national registry
vs Large Airport Median
+20%
Compared to 10,000 ft baseline
💡 SLC in numbers: 12,002 ft longest runway · #187 of 650 published · #293 of 7,558 worldwide (top 3.9%) · #19 in United States.
🛫

Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Salt Lake City International Airport is the primary mountain hub for Delta Air Lines. Elevated at 4,227 ft above sea level, true airspeeds on takeoff are considerably higher than at coastal facilities. To accommodate long-haul flights to London, Paris, and Amsterdam, both primary parallel runways (16L/34R and 16R/34L) measure 12,000 ft. Its wide runway separation permits uninterrupted dual visual and instrument operations against the scenic backdrop of the Wasatch Range.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments
Four active runways: three parallel north-south strips 16L/34R (12,003 ft), 16R/34L (12,000 ft), 17/35 (9,599 ft) and crosswind Runway 14/32 (4,900 ft).
Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities
Established in 1911 as Woodward Field. Built into a major Western hub by Western Airlines and Delta; completed a massive $4.5 billion 'New SLC' terminal redevelopment in 2020.
Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role
Dominates the Intermountain West, providing non-stop European connections that bypass Denver (DEN, 340 NM east) and Las Vegas (LAS, 319 NM southwest).
Data Nuances & Operational Quirks
Operating at 4,227 ft MSL between the Great Salt Lake and Wasatch Mountains; high elevation and hot summer temperatures demand long runways to overcome density altitude.
📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) · FAA Form 5010-1 Airport Master Record & NFDC Surveyed Aeronautical Data · AirNav SLC Master Record ↗
Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Longest runway ≥10,500 ft
⛰️

Elevation & National Context

Mid-Altitude Aerodrome (2,000–4,999 ft)

SLC lies at 1,288 m (4,227 ft), #62 of 650 published airports by elevation and 90.7 percentile among 7,558 worldwide. It is 3,620 ft above the United States median (607 ft, 63 airports); COS is highest at 6,187 ft, 1,960 ft higher than SLC.

🧭

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 SLC. Nearest published airport: Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field (BOI), 252 NM, 10,000 ft (2,002 ft shorter than SLC); none other within 250 NM.

✈️

Runway Inventory & National Standing

Primary Runway: 12,002 ft (3,658 m)

SLC runways: 16L/34R 12,002 × 150 ft asphalt (asp); 16R/34L 12,000 × 150 ft concrete (con); 17/35 9,596 × 150 ft asphalt (asp); 14/32 4,893 × 150 ft asphalt (asp). National standing: #19 of 63 in United States; DEN leads by 3,998 ft (16,000 ft). +20% vs the 10,000 ft baseline.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator Length (ft / m) Width (ft / m) Surface Material Lighting Status
16L/34R 12,002 ft (3658 m / 3.658 km) 150 ft (46m) Asphalt (ASP) ✅ Lighted ✅ Active
16R/34L 12,000 ft (3658 m / 3.658 km) 150 ft (46m) Concrete (CON) ✅ Lighted ✅ Active
17/35 9,596 ft (2925 m / 2.925 km) 150 ft (46m) Asphalt (ASP) ✅ Lighted ✅ Active
14/32 4,893 ft (1491 m / 1.491 km) 150 ft (46m) Asphalt (ASP) ✅ Lighted ✅ Active

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