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

Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport

Mbombela, Mpumalanga (South Africa)

IATA: MQP ICAO: FAKN

Longest Active Runway

10,171 ft

3,100 meters

Field Elevation

2,829 ft

862 m MSL

Runway Inventory

1 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

-25.3833°, 31.1053°

LARGE AIRPORT

🏆

Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#513 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#832 of 7558

Top 11.2% percentile worldwide

National Standing (South Africa)

#4 in ZA

#9 of 68 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+1.7%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport's longest active runway measures 10,171 ft (3,100 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #513. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #832 worldwide (Top 11.2%) and #4 nationally in South Africa.

🔬 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

Mid-Altitude Plateau / Valley Facility

Operating at 2,829 ft (862 m MSL), true airspeed (TAS) on approach and takeoff roll is moderately higher than indicated airspeed (IAS). Engines experience slight thrust lapse under elevated summer temperatures, necessitating conservative density-altitude dispatch calculations for fully laden twin-engine commercial transports.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

2 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

Within its 100 NM cluster of 2 neighboring aerodromes, Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport is supported by major regional alternatives. Notably, King Mswati III International Airport (SHO) lies just 67.2 NM away with a 11,811 ft runway, offering reliable operational redundancy for commercial diversions and congested airspace rerouting.

✈️

Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 10,171 ft (3,100 m)

At 10,171 ft (3,100 m), the primary runway comfortably accommodates mid-to-large twin-aisle widebody transports (such as the Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A330-900) as well as maximum-range narrowbody transcontinental configurations (Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 737 MAX 9) under typical atmospheric conditions.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
05/23	10,171 ft (3100m)	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
King Mswati III International Airport (Mpaka)	`SHO`	67.2 NM (124.5 km)	11,811 ft	✅ Lighted
Maputo Airport (Maputo)	`MPM`	85.7 NM (158.7 km)	12,008 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/mqp.json ↗