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

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport

Guangzhou (Huadu), Guangdong Province (China)

IATA: CAN ICAO: ZGGG

Longest Active Runway

12,467 ft

3,800 meters

Field Elevation

50 ft

15 m MSL

Runway Inventory

5 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

23.3924°, 113.2990°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#128 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#206 of 7558

Top 2.8% percentile worldwide

National Standing (China)

#15 in CN

#26 of 264 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+24.7%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport's longest active runway measures 12,467 ft (3,800 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #128. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #206 worldwide (Top 2.8%) and #15 nationally in China.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is one of the world's most prolific passenger and cargo transit centers. Its three parallel runways provide immense movement capacity, supporting China Southern's intercontinental network connecting Europe, Oceania, and the Americas. Positioned at 50 ft elevation in the Pearl River basin, CAN provides optimal sea-level engine performance and massive widebody freight facilities.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Three active parallel runways: 01/19 (11,811 ft), 02L/20R (12,467 ft / 3,800 m), and 02R/20L (12,467 ft / 3,800 m), with 4th and 5th runways under construction.

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Relocated in August 2004 from historical Baiyun Airport in downtown Guangzhou to an immense greenfield site 15 miles north. Opened Terminal 2 in 2018, anchoring China Southern Airlines' 'Canton Route'.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Premier civil aviation mega-hub in mainland southern China, operating in closely coordinated airspace alongside Hong Kong (HKG, 72 NM southeast) and Shenzhen (SZX).

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Manages dense sub-tropical summer thunderstorm lines and typhoon bands with high-capacity triple-parallel precision instrument approach paths.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) · Aeronautical Information Service China (NAIP)

Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Comparative aviation metrics evaluated against regional and global physical operational criteria.

ICAO Code 4E / 4F Super-Heavy

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Elevation & Atmospheric Density

Lowland / Coastal Basin Aerodrome

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport operates at a surveyed field elevation of 50 ft (15 m MSL) in Guangzhou (Huadu). Situated in low-lying coastal terrain, the aerodrome benefits from dense ambient atmospheric pressure, maximizing turbine engine thrust and wing lift efficiency across all departure vectors.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

4 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

Premier civil aviation mega-hub in mainland southern China, operating in closely coordinated airspace alongside Hong Kong (HKG, 72 NM southeast) and Shenzhen (SZX). Within a 100 NM radius, the facility coordinates airspace flows with 4 qualifying commercial aerodromes, with Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX) located 53.1 NM away.

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Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 12,467 ft (3,800 m)

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport's active flight strips comprise 02R/20L (12,467 ft), 02L/20R (12,467 ft), 01R/19L (11,811 ft), 03/21 (11,811 ft), 01L/19R (11,155 ft). With a longest active threshold of 12,467 ft (3,800 m), the aerodrome satisfies unrestricted long-haul takeoff and landing distance requirements for heavy twin-aisle and four-engine widebodies (ICAO Code 4E/4F).

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
02R/20L	12,467 ft (3800m)	197 ft (60m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
02L/20R	12,467 ft (3800m)	197 ft (60m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
01R/19L	11,811 ft (3600m)	148 ft (45m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
03/21	11,811 ft (3600m)	148 ft (45m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
01L/19R	11,155 ft (3400m)	148 ft (45m)	`Concrete (CONC)`	✅ 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
Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (Shenzhen)	`SZX`	53.1 NM (98.3 km)	12,467 ft	✅ Lighted
Hong Kong International Airport (Hong Kong)	`HKG`	73.3 NM (135.8 km)	12,467 ft	✅ Lighted
Macau International Airport (Nossa Senhora do Carmo)	`MFM`	76.4 NM (141.5 km)	10,544 ft	✅ Lighted
Zhuhai Jinwan Airport (Zhuhai (Jinwan))	`ZUH`	83.3 NM (154.3 km)	13,517 ft	✅ Lighted

🛡️ Data Provenance & Verification Metadata

Source Dataset: OurAirports Open Aviation Database

Snapshot Version: 2026-09-01

Dataset Integrity: Cryptographic SHA-256 Checksum Verified & Fail-Closed Schema Inspected

Source Verification: Source-reported registry data

Read Complete Methodology & Verification Protocol → GET /api/airport/can.json ↗