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

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

Detroit, Michigan (United States)

IATA: DTW ICAO: KDTW

Longest Active Runway

12,003 ft

3,659 meters

Field Elevation

645 ft

197 m MSL

Runway Inventory

6 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

42.2138°, -83.3538°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#186 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#291 of 7558

Top 3.9% percentile worldwide

National Standing (United States)

#18 in US

#58 of 2020 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+20%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport's longest active runway measures 12,003 ft (3,659 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #186. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #291 worldwide (Top 3.9%) and #18 nationally in United States.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is widely regarded as one of North America's most delay-resilient airfield hubs. Its four parallel runways allow dual simultaneous arrival and departure streams, while the longest strip, 04R/22L at 12,003 ft, easily accommodates intercontinental flights connecting Detroit with Tokyo, Seoul, and Europe. Positioned at 645 ft MSL, DTW features exceptional runway de-icing logistics and rapid deplaning taxi networks.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Six active runways: four parallel north-south vectors 03L/21R (8,501 ft), 03R/21L (10,001 ft), 04L/22R (10,000 ft), 04R/22L (12,003 ft) plus two east-west crosswinds 09L/27R (8,708 ft) and 09R/27L (8,500 ft).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Opened in 1930 as Wayne County Airport. Transformed into Delta Air Lines' primary midwest and Asian gateway following the landmark McNamara Terminal construction in 2002.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Primary intercontinental hub for the Great Lakes industrial corridor, operating without the severe airspace delays of Chicago O'Hare (ORD, 204 NM west).

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

The dual crosswind runway complex (09L/27R and 09R/27L) ensures zero ground shutdowns when winter polar vortex gales sweep across Lake Michigan from the west.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) · FAA Form 5010-1 Airport Master Record & NFDC Surveyed Aeronautical Data · AirNav DTW Master Record ↗

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

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport operates at a surveyed field elevation of 645 ft (197 m MSL) in Detroit. 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)

1 Qualifying Aerodrome in Vicinity

Primary intercontinental hub for the Great Lakes industrial corridor, operating without the severe airspace delays of Chicago O'Hare (ORD, 204 NM west). Within a 100 NM radius, the facility coordinates airspace flows with 1 qualifying commercial aerodromes, with Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) located 82.8 NM away.

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Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 12,003 ft (3,659 m)

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport's active flight strips comprise 04R/22L (12,003 ft), 03R/21L (10,001 ft), 04L/22R (10,000 ft), 09L/27R (8,708 ft), 03L/21R (8,501 ft), 09R/27L (8,500 ft). With a longest active threshold of 12,003 ft (3,659 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
04R/22L	12,003 ft (3659m)	200 ft (61m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
03R/21L	10,001 ft (3048m)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
04L/22R	10,000 ft (3048m)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
09L/27R	8,708 ft (2654m)	150 ft (46m)	`Permanent Paved (PEM)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
03L/21R	8,501 ft (2591m)	150 ft (46m)	`Permanent Paved (PEM)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
09R/27L	8,500 ft (2591m)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ 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
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (Cleveland)	`CLE`	82.8 NM (153.3 km)	9,953 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/dtw.json ↗