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

Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles, California (United States)

IATA: LAX ICAO: KLAX

Longest Active Runway

12,894 ft

3,930 meters

Field Elevation

125 ft

38 m MSL

Runway Inventory

4 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

33.9425°, -118.4080°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#96 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#155 of 7558

Top 2.0% percentile worldwide

National Standing (United States)

#9 in US

#36 of 2020 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+28.9%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: Los Angeles International Airport's longest active runway measures 12,894 ft (3,930 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #96. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #155 worldwide (Top 2.0%) and #9 nationally in United States.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Los Angeles International Airport is North America's premier transpacific gateway, utilizing an intensive quad-runway architecture. Its separated north and south airfield complexes allow simultaneous parallel instrument approaches even during the coastal marine layer fog common to Southern California mornings. Runway 07L/25R measures 12,091 ft, accommodating maximum-payload departures to East Asia and Australasia, while center taxiway engineering prevents runway incursions between closely spaced parallel strips.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Four parallel east-west runways organized into two independent complexes: North Airfield (06L/24R, 06R/24L) and South Airfield (07L/25R, 07R/25L).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Opened in 1928 as Mines Field, expanding for the 1984 Summer Olympics with the iconic Theme Building and central terminal loop. Recent Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP) introduced an automated people mover and modernized the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Handles greater widebody traffic than all other Southern California basin aerodromes combined, contrasting with single-runway regional reliever Long Beach (LGB) and noise-restricted Burbank (BUR).

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Enforces strict 'Over-Ocean Operations' between midnight and 06:30, requiring arrivals from the west over Santa Monica Bay and departures to the west over the Pacific Ocean to shield residential inland neighborhoods from nocturnal noise.

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

Los Angeles International Airport operates at a surveyed field elevation of 125 ft (38 m MSL) in Los Angeles. 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

Handles greater widebody traffic than all other Southern California basin aerodromes combined, contrasting with single-runway regional reliever Long Beach (LGB) and noise-restricted Burbank (BUR). Within a 100 NM radius, the facility coordinates airspace flows with 4 qualifying commercial aerodromes, with Long Beach International Airport (LGB) located 14.9 NM away.

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Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 12,894 ft (3,930 m)

Los Angeles International Airport's active flight strips comprise 7L/25R (12,894 ft), 7R/25L (11,095 ft), 6R/24L (10,859 ft), 6L/24R (8,926 ft). With a longest active threshold of 12,894 ft (3,930 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
7L/25R	12,894 ft (3930m)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
7R/25L	11,095 ft (3382m)	200 ft (61m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
6R/24L	10,859 ft (3310m)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
6L/24R	8,926 ft (2721m)	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
Long Beach International Airport (Long Beach)	`LGB`	14.9 NM (27.6 km)	10,000 ft	✅ Lighted
Ontario International Airport (Ontario)	`ONT`	40.7 NM (75.4 km)	12,197 ft	✅ Lighted
San Bernardino International Airport (San Bernardino)	`SBD`	59 NM (109.3 km)	10,000 ft	✅ Lighted
Palm Springs International Airport (Palm Springs)	`PSP`	95 NM (175.9 km)	10,000 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/lax.json ↗