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

Warsaw Chopin Airport

Compiled by Bill Gao

Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship (Poland)

IATA: WAW ICAO: EPWA

Longest Active Runway

12,106 ft

3,690 meters

Field Elevation

362 ft

110 m MSL

Runway Inventory

2 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

52.1657°, 20.9671°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

How ranks work →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#171 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#262 of 7558

Top 3.5% percentile worldwide

National Standing (Poland)

#1 of 3 in PL

#1 of 15 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+21.1%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 WAW in numbers: 12,106 ft longest runway · #171 of 650 published · #262 of 7,558 worldwide (top 3.5%) · #1 in Poland.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Warsaw Chopin Airport is Poland's busiest commercial aerodrome. Its primary runway 15/33 at 12,106 ft handles LOT's long-haul Dreamliner departures to North America and East Asia. Because the runways physically cross, arrival and departure operations must be tightly interleaved, with controllers balancing urban noise abatement routes against prevailing southeasterly and westerly winds.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Intersecting X-configuration runways: Runway 11/29 (9,186 ft / 2,800 m) and Runway 15/33 (12,106 ft / 3,690 m).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Opened in 1934 in the Okęcie district, rebuilt after near-total destruction in WWII. Expanded in 2008 with Terminal 2; now operating near statutory capacity as Poland constructs the CPK Solidarity Transport Mega-Hub.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Serves as LOT Polish Airlines' global hub, while low-cost point-to-point flights are frequently siphoned to Warsaw Modlin (WMI, 21 NM north).

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Strict nocturnal noise quota and curfew enforced between 23:30 and 05:30 due to urban residential density directly under the approach paths to 11 and 33.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Poland National Civil Aviation Authority · State Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) & ICAO Annex 14 Standards

Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Longest runway ≥10,500 ft

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Elevation & National Context

Lowland Aerodrome (<2,000 ft)

WAW lies at 110 m (362 ft), #308 of 650 published airports by elevation and 46.3 percentile among 7,558 worldwide. It is 331 ft below the Poland median (693 ft, 3 airports); KTW is highest at 995 ft, 633 ft higher than WAW.

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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 WAW. Nearest published airport: Katowice Wojciech Korfanty International Airport (KTW), 124 NM, 10,499 ft (1,607 ft shorter than WAW); 5 within 250 NM.

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Runway Inventory & National Standing

Primary Runway: 12,106 ft (3,690 m)

WAW runways: 15/33 12,106 × 196 ft asphalt (asph); 11/29 9,186 × 164 ft asphalt (asph). National standing: #1 of 3 in Poland; 1,607 ft ahead of KTW (10,499 ft). +21.1% vs the 10,000 ft baseline.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
15/33	12,106 ft (3690 m / 3.690 km)	196 ft (60m)	`Asphalt (ASPH)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
11/29	9,186 ft (2800 m / 2.800 km)	164 ft (50m)	`Asphalt (ASPH)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active

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