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

King Mswati III International Airport

Mpaka, Lubombo Region (Eswatini)

IATA: SHO ICAO: FDSK

Longest Active Runway

11,811 ft

3,600 meters

Field Elevation

1,092 ft

333 m MSL

Runway Inventory

1 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

-26.3586°, 31.7169°

LARGE AIRPORT

🏆

Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#233 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#369 of 7558

Top 5.2% percentile worldwide

National Standing (Eswatini)

#1 in SZ

#1 of 2 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+18.1%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: King Mswati III International Airport's longest active runway measures 11,811 ft (3,600 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #233. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #369 worldwide (Top 5.2%) and #1 nationally in Eswatini.

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Comparative aviation metrics evaluated against regional and global physical operational criteria.

ICAO Code 4E / 4F Super-Heavy

⛰️

Elevation & Atmospheric Density

Lowland / Coastal Basin Aerodrome

Positioned at 1,092 ft (333 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.

🧭

Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

2 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

Within its 100 NM cluster of 2 neighboring aerodromes, King Mswati III International Airport is supported by major regional alternatives. Notably, Maputo Airport (MPM) lies just 53.1 NM away with a 12,008 ft runway, offering reliable operational redundancy for commercial diversions and congested airspace rerouting.

✈️

Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 11,811 ft (3,600 m)

With its longest runway exceeding 10,500 ft (3,600 m) and paved surface engineering, King Mswati III 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
02/20	11,811 ft (3600m)	197 ft (60m)	`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
Maputo Airport (Maputo)	`MPM`	53.1 NM (98.3 km)	12,008 ft	✅ Lighted
Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (Mbombela)	`MQP`	67.2 NM (124.5 km)	10,171 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/sho.json ↗