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

Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport

Louisville, Kentucky (United States)

IATA: SDF ICAO: KSDF

Longest Active Runway

11,887 ft

3,623 meters

Field Elevation

501 ft

153 m MSL

Runway Inventory

3 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

38.1706°, -85.7351°

LARGE AIRPORT

🏆

Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#210 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#334 of 7558

Top 4.4% percentile worldwide

National Standing (United States)

#25 in US

#77 of 2020 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+18.9%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport's longest active runway measures 11,887 ft (3,623 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #210. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #334 worldwide (Top 4.4%) and #25 nationally in United States.

🔬 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

Positioned at 501 ft (153 m MSL), this aerodrome operates near standard International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) sea-level air density. High ambient air pressure provides optimal turbine thrust conversion, maximum wing lift coefficients, and minimal ground roll distance requirements, allowing long-haul flights to depart at maximum structural takeoff weight limits without atmospheric density penalties.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

2 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

Within its 100 NM cluster of 2 neighboring aerodromes, Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is supported by major regional alternatives. Notably, Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) lies just 72.7 NM away with a 12,001 ft runway, offering reliable operational redundancy for commercial diversions and congested airspace rerouting.

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Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 11,887 ft (3,623 m)

With its longest runway exceeding 10,500 ft (3,623 m) and paved surface engineering, Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport meets the operational runway criteria for unrestricted long-haul operations by Code 4E and 4F heavy widebody aircraft, including the Airbus A380-800, Boeing 747-8, Airbus A350-1000, and Boeing 777-300ER at high operational weights.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
17R/35L	11,887 ft (3623m)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
17L/35R	8,578 ft (2615m)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
11/29	7,251 ft (2210m)	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
Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (Cincinnati / Covington)	`CVG`	72.7 NM (134.6 km)	12,001 ft	✅ Lighted
Indianapolis International Airport (Indianapolis)	`IND`	96.5 NM (178.7 km)	11,200 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/sdf.json ↗