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

Penang International Airport

Penang, Penang (Malaysia)

IATA: PEN ICAO: WMKP

Longest Active Runway

10,997 ft

3,352 meters

Field Elevation

11 ft

3 m MSL

Runway Inventory

1 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

5.2963°, 100.2762°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#378 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#604 of 7558

Top 8.0% percentile worldwide

National Standing (Malaysia)

#7 in MY

#8 of 34 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+10%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: Penang International Airport's longest active runway measures 10,997 ft (3,352 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #378. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #604 worldwide (Top 8.0%) and #7 nationally in Malaysia.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Penang International Airport (PEN)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Penang International Airport is Malaysia's premier electronics and technology export portal. Its 11,000 ft runway accommodates heavy international freighter flights operated by FedEx, UPS, and Cathay Cargo, shuttling microchips directly to global supply chains. Located at 11 ft above sea level on southern Penang Island, PEN provides exceptional aerodynamic takeoff performance and growing regional tourism passenger throughput.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Single paved Runway 04/22 (11,000 ft / 3,353 m).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Opened in 1935 as Bayan Lepas Aerodrome. Upgraded repeatedly to support Penang's emergence as the 'Silicon Valley of the East', with ongoing terminal expansions to handle 12 million passengers.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Primary international airport in northern Peninsular Malaysia, located 175 NM northwest of Kuala Lumpur (KUL).

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Handles high volumes of temperature-sensitive semiconductor and microchip air freight; sea-level tropical location requires convective weather monitoring during monsoon changes.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Malaysia 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

Penang International Airport operates at a surveyed field elevation of 11 ft (3 m MSL) in Penang. 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

Primary international airport in northern Peninsular Malaysia, located 175 NM northwest of Kuala Lumpur (KUL). Within a 100 NM radius, the facility coordinates airspace flows with 2 qualifying commercial aerodromes, with Langkawi International Airport (LGK) located 70.1 NM away.

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Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 10,997 ft (3,352 m)

Penang International Airport's active flight strips comprise 04/22 (10,997 ft). With a longest active threshold of 10,997 ft (3,352 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
04/22	10,997 ft (3352m)	150 ft (46m)	`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
Langkawi International Airport (Langkawi)	`LGK`	70.1 NM (129.8 km)	12,500 ft	✅ Lighted
Hat Yai International Airport (Hat Yai)	`HDY`	98.5 NM (182.4 km)	10,007 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/pen.json ↗