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

Brussels South Charleroi Airport

Charleroi, Hainaut Province (Belgium)

IATA: CRL ICAO: EBCI

Longest Active Runway

10,023 ft

3,055 meters

Field Elevation

614 ft

187 m MSL

Runway Inventory

1 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

50.4620°, 4.4596°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#539 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#880 of 7558

Top 11.6% percentile worldwide

National Standing (Belgium)

#3 in BE

#4 of 7 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+0.2%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: Brussels South Charleroi Airport's longest active runway measures 10,023 ft (3,055 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #539. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #880 worldwide (Top 11.6%) and #3 nationally in Belgium.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Brussels South Charleroi Airport is a premier case study in low-cost airline base economics. Positioned on the elevated Walloon plateau at 614 ft MSL, CRL's extended 8,366 ft runway accommodates fully loaded Boeing 737-8200 and Airbus A320 flights throughout the Mediterranean and North Africa. Modern CAT III instrument guidance ensures high winter punctuality during damp European low-ceiling conditions.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Single paved Runway 06/24 (8,366 ft / 2,550 m).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Originated as a flying school in 1919; transformed in the late 1990s when Ryanair established its first continental European operational base here. Extended runway to 2,550m in 2021.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Premier low-cost alternative to Brussels Airport (BRU, 30 NM north), serving Belgium, northern France, and Luxembourg.

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

High runway occupancy pressure demands rapid braking and swift roll-out onto high-speed exit taxiways to sustain 30-minute low-cost carrier aircraft turnarounds.

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

Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

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

ICAO Code 4D / 4E Heavy Intercontinental

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Elevation & Atmospheric Density

Lowland / Coastal Basin Aerodrome

Brussels South Charleroi Airport operates at a surveyed field elevation of 614 ft (187 m MSL) in Charleroi. 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 low-cost alternative to Brussels Airport (BRU, 30 NM north), serving Belgium, northern France, and Luxembourg. Within a 100 NM radius, the facility coordinates airspace flows with 4 qualifying commercial aerodromes, with Brussels Airport (BRU) located 26.4 NM away.

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Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 10,023 ft (3,055 m)

Brussels South Charleroi Airport's active flight strips comprise 06/24 (10,023 ft). With a longest active threshold of 10,023 ft (3,055 m), the primary runway accommodates transcontinental twin-engine widebodies and long-range narrowbody airliners at standard operational weights.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
06/24	10,023 ft (3055m)	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
Brussels Airport (Zaventem)	`BRU`	26.4 NM (48.9 km)	11,936 ft	✅ Lighted
Eindhoven Airport (Eindhoven)	`EIN`	68.7 NM (127.2 km)	9,843 ft	✅ Lighted
Ostend-Bruges International Airport (Oostende)	`OST`	74.7 NM (138.3 km)	10,499 ft	✅ Lighted
Luxembourg-Findel International Airport (Luxembourg)	`LUX`	84.1 NM (155.8 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/crl.json ↗