RunwayWarsaw Chopin Airport
Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing
Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW)
Warsaw Chopin Airport is Poland's busiest commercial aerodrome. Its primary runway 15/33 at 12,106 ft handles LOT's long-haul Dreamliner departures to North America and East Asia. Because the runways physically cross, arrival and departure operations must be tightly interleaved, with controllers balancing urban noise abatement routes against prevailing southeasterly and westerly winds.
🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis
Elevation & Atmospheric Density
Warsaw Chopin Airport operates at a surveyed field elevation of 362 ft (110 m MSL) in Warsaw. 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.
Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)
Serves as LOT Polish Airlines' global hub, while low-cost point-to-point flights are frequently siphoned to Warsaw Modlin (WMI, 21 NM north). The facility operates as an isolated regional aviation anchor with no other major paved commercial aerodromes within 100 NM.
Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll
Warsaw Chopin Airport's active flight strips comprise 15/33 (12,106 ft), 11/29 (9,186 ft). With a longest active threshold of 12,106 ft (3,690 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15/33 | 12,106 ft (3690m) | 196 ft (60m) | Asphalt (ASPH) | ✅ Lighted | ✅ Active |
| 11/29 | 9,186 ft (2800m) | 164 ft (50m) | Asphalt (ASPH) | ✅ Lighted | ✅ Active |