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

Cologne Bonn Airport

Köln (Cologne), North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany)

IATA: CGN ICAO: EDDK

Longest Active Runway

12,516 ft

3,815 meters

Field Elevation

302 ft

92 m MSL

Runway Inventory

3 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

50.8659°, 7.1427°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#107 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#173 of 7558

Top 2.3% percentile worldwide

National Standing (Germany)

#4 in DE

#4 of 83 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+25.2%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: Cologne Bonn Airport's longest active runway measures 12,516 ft (3,815 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #107. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #173 worldwide (Top 2.3%) and #4 nationally in Germany.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Cologne Bonn Airport (Konrad Adenauer) is a powerhouse of European air cargo and passenger logistics. Its triangular runway layout provides seamless crosswind adaptability during North Atlantic winter frontal passages. With primary Runway 14L/32R extending 12,516 ft and no nocturnal flight ban, CGN serves as the vital European sorting hub for UPS Airlines and a major operating base for Eurowings.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Triangular three-runway system: primary parallel pair 14L/32R (12,516 ft / 3,815 m) and 14R/32L (6,112 ft / 1,863 m) intersected by crosswind Runway 06/24 (8,087 ft / 2,465 m).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Established in 1938 as a military airfield in the Wahner Heide nature reserve. Developed post-war into West Germany's capital gateway; privatized and expanded into UPS's European air freight hub.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Operates 24/7 without night curfews, contrasting with noise-restricted neighboring hub Düsseldorf (DUS, 29 NM north).

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Germany's leading nocturnal express cargo gateway, supporting continuous widebody freight operations through its 12,516 ft primary runway.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA) & DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung · Aeronautical Information Publication Deutschland (AIP Germany)

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

Cologne Bonn Airport operates at a surveyed field elevation of 302 ft (92 m MSL) in Köln (Cologne). 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

Operates 24/7 without night curfews, contrasting with noise-restricted neighboring hub Düsseldorf (DUS, 29 NM north). Within a 100 NM radius, the facility coordinates airspace flows with 4 qualifying commercial aerodromes, with Frankfurt-Hahn Airport (HHN) located 55.4 NM away.

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Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 12,516 ft (3,815 m)

Cologne Bonn Airport's active flight strips comprise 13L/31R (12,516 ft), 06/24 (8,067 ft), 13R/31L (6,112 ft). With a longest active threshold of 12,516 ft (3,815 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
13L/31R	12,516 ft (3815m)	197 ft (60m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
06/24	8,067 ft (2459m)	148 ft (45m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
13R/31L	6,112 ft (1863m)	148 ft (45m)	`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
Frankfurt-Hahn Airport (Frankfurt am Main (Lautzenhausen))	`HHN`	55.4 NM (102.6 km)	12,467 ft	✅ Lighted
Frankfurt Main Airport (Frankfurt am Main)	`FRA`	73.9 NM (136.9 km)	13,123 ft	✅ Lighted
Eindhoven Airport (Eindhoven)	`EIN`	75.3 NM (139.5 km)	9,843 ft	✅ Lighted
Luxembourg-Findel International Airport (Luxembourg)	`LUX`	82.5 NM (152.8 km)	13,123 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/cgn.json ↗