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

Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport

Luanda, Luanda Province (Angola)

IATA: LAD ICAO: FNLU

Longest Active Runway

12,190 ft

3,716 meters

Field Elevation

243 ft

74 m MSL

Runway Inventory

2 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

-8.8584°, 13.2312°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#157 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#242 of 7558

Top 3.2% percentile worldwide

National Standing (Angola)

#2 in AO

#2 of 26 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+21.9%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport's longest active runway measures 12,190 ft (3,716 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #157. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #242 worldwide (Top 3.2%) and #2 nationally in Angola.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport (LAD)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport has served as Angola's primary international lifeline for seven decades. Runway 05/23 extends to 12,188 ft, equipped with high-intensity lighting and paved overruns to support widebody flights by TAAG Angola Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, and global petroleum charters. The facility's high movement density inside central Luanda spearheaded the development of the new Agostinho Neto replacement hub.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Dual non-parallel runways: primary Runway 05/23 (12,188 ft / 3,715 m) and secondary Runway 07/25 (8,530 ft / 2,600 m).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Opened in 1954 under Portuguese administration. Modernized post-civil war to handle Angola's oil boom; currently transitioning international commercial operations to the mega-scale Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport (AIA) 24 NM southeast.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Historically the sole intercontinental threshold for Angola, surrounded by the dense urban sprawl of downtown Luanda.

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Proximity to the Atlantic shoreline at 243 ft elevation ensures benign thermal conditions, but urban encroachment around runway thresholds requires steep glide path compliance.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Angola 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

Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport operates at a surveyed field elevation of 243 ft (74 m MSL) in Luanda. 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

Historically the sole intercontinental threshold for Angola, surrounded by the dense urban sprawl of downtown Luanda. Within a 100 NM radius, the facility coordinates airspace flows with 1 qualifying commercial aerodromes, with Dr. Antonio Agostinho Neto International Airport (NBJ) located 19.6 NM away.

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Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 12,190 ft (3,716 m)

Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport's active flight strips comprise 05/23 (12,190 ft), 07/25 (8,530 ft). With a longest active threshold of 12,190 ft (3,716 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
05/23	12,190 ft (3716m)	148 ft (45m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
07/25	8,530 ft (2600m)	197 ft (60m)	`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
Dr. Antonio Agostinho Neto International Airport (Luanda (Ícolo e Bengo))	`NBJ`	19.6 NM (36.3 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/lad.json ↗