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

Kuwait International Airport

Kuwait City, Al Farwaniyah Governorate (Kuwait)

IATA: KWI ICAO: OKKK

Longest Active Runway

15,026 ft

4,580 meters

Field Elevation

206 ft

63 m MSL

Runway Inventory

3 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

29.2245°, 47.9698°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#7 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#14 of 7558

Top 0.2% percentile worldwide

National Standing (Kuwait)

#1 in KW

#1 of 1 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+50.3%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: Kuwait International Airport's longest active runway measures 15,026 ft (4,580 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #7. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #14 worldwide (Top 0.2%) and #1 nationally in Kuwait.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Kuwait International Airport (KWI)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Kuwait International Airport operates under some of the most punishing atmospheric environments in global aviation. The flat desert topography provides obstruction-free obstacle clearance surfaces, but midday summer heat severely thins air density, extending takeoff ground roll requirements for heavily fueled widebodies heading to Europe and North America. Ground operations also manage frequent convective shamal dust storms requiring rapid runway friction monitoring and air filtration maintenance.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Dual parallel north-south runways 15L/33R (11,483 ft / 3,500 m) and 15R/33L (11,155 ft / 3,400 m) with a newly constructed third parallel runway.

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

First opened in 1928 as a desert airfield; comprehensively modernized in 1979 with Kenzo Tange's iconic airplane-shaped terminal. The ongoing Terminal 2 expansion aims to elevate annual capacity to 25 million passengers.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Functions as northern Arabian Gulf hub, complementing Dammam (DMM, 161 NM south) while maintaining heavy military transport logistics alongside civil Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways hubs.

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Summer ambient temperatures routinely exceed 50°C (122°F), causing extreme thermal density altitude penalties that demand rigorous engine thrust lapse calculations and high-speed tire thermal ratings.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Kuwait 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 4E / 4F Super-Heavy

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Elevation & Atmospheric Density

Lowland / Coastal Basin Aerodrome

Kuwait International Airport operates at a surveyed field elevation of 206 ft (63 m MSL) in Kuwait City. 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)

2 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

Functions as northern Arabian Gulf hub, complementing Dammam (DMM, 161 NM south) while maintaining heavy military transport logistics alongside civil Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways hubs. Within a 100 NM radius, the facility coordinates airspace flows with 2 qualifying commercial aerodromes, with Abadan Ayatollah Jami International Airport (ABD) located 70 NM away.

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Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 15,026 ft (4,580 m)

Kuwait International Airport's active flight strips comprise 16/34 (15,026 ft), 15L/33R (11,483 ft), 15R/33L (11,155 ft). With a longest active threshold of 15,026 ft (4,580 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
16/34	15,026 ft (4580m)	197 ft (60m)	`Asphalt (ASPH)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
15L/33R	11,483 ft (3500m)	148 ft (45m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
15R/33L	11,155 ft (3400m)	148 ft (45m)	`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
Abadan Ayatollah Jami International Airport (Abadan)	`ABD`	70 NM (129.6 km)	10,169 ft	✅ Lighted
Basra International Airport (Basra)	`BSR`	81.1 NM (150.2 km)	13,124 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/kwi.json ↗