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Xigaze Peace Airport / Shigatse Air Base

Xigazê (Samzhubzê), Tibet Autonomous Region (China)

IATA: RKZ ICAO: ZURK

Longest Active Runway

16,404 ft

5,000 meters

Field Elevation

12,408 ft

3,782 m MSL

Runway Inventory

2 active

Unlighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

29.3509°, 89.2992°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#1 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#2 of 7558

Top <0.1% percentile worldwide

National Standing (China)

#1 in CN

#1 of 264 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+64%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: Xigaze Peace Airport / Shigatse Air Base's longest active runway measures 16,404 ft (5,000 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #1. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #2 worldwide (Top <0.1%) and #1 nationally in China.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Xigaze Peace Airport / Shigatse Air Base (RKZ)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Shigatse Peace Airport is an extraordinary testament to civil aviation engineering in extreme environments. Situated at an altitude of 12,402 ft on the Tibetan Plateau, severely reduced air pressure impairs aerodynamic lift and turbojet engine thrust. To ensure commercial jetliners can reach high rotation speeds and stop safely with high landing ground speeds, Runway 09/27 was engineered to a staggering 5,000 meters (16,404 ft), with operations restricted to specially modified aircraft with oxygen systems.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Single paved Runway 09/27 (16,404 ft / 5,000 m).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Commissioned in October 2010 as Tibet's fifth civil airport, built as a high-altitude dual-use military and civilian facility.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Serves Tibet's second-largest city and the Tashilhunpo Monastery region, located 80 NM west of Lhasa Gonggar (LXA).

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

One of the highest commercial airports in the world at 12,402 ft (3,780 m MSL); air density is roughly 40% lower than at sea level, requiring an astonishing 16,404 ft (5,000 m) runway—among the longest civil runways on Earth.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) · Aeronautical Information Service China (NAIP)

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

High-Altitude Aerodrome (Hot & High)

Xigaze Peace Airport / Shigatse Air Base operates at a surveyed field elevation of 12,408 ft (3,782 m MSL) in Xigazê (Samzhubzê). Operating in high density-altitude conditions, aircraft true airspeed on takeoff and landing runs noticeably higher than indicated airspeed, requiring extended runway lengths.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

1 Qualifying Aerodrome in Vicinity

Serves Tibet's second-largest city and the Tashilhunpo Monastery region, located 80 NM west of Lhasa Gonggar (LXA). Within a 100 NM radius, the facility coordinates airspace flows with 1 qualifying commercial aerodromes, with Lhasa Gonggar International Airport (LXA) located 84.5 NM away.

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Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 16,404 ft (5,000 m)

Xigaze Peace Airport / Shigatse Air Base's active flight strips comprise 09/27 (16,404 ft), 07/25 (9,843 ft). With a longest active threshold of 16,404 ft (5,000 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
09/27	16,404 ft (5000m)	197 ft (60m)	`Concrete (CON)`	❌ Unlighted	✅ Active
07/25	9,843 ft (3000m)	35 ft (11m)	`Concrete (CON)`	❌ Unlighted	✅ 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
Lhasa Gonggar International Airport (Shannan (Gonggar))	`LXA`	84.5 NM (156.5 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/rkz.json ↗