I'm somewhat of a numbers guy, and, as I've flown into a number of cities (no pun intended) around the world, I've found it interesting that each major airport has its own blueprint, both in terms of terminal layout but also in the ways its runways are aligned. Obviously many newer airports are starting to lay a number of runways in the same direction rather than criss-crossing runways -- as I understand it it's mainly because planes these days can handle crosswinds much more than their older siblings -- and so I've seen a number of airports with runways that start with 09/27 and 18/36 but not as many where they are 05/23 or 11/29. With all that in mind I started to make a list of runway designation pairs (from 01/19 to 18/36, with and without R/C/L designations), choosing what I think is the most "notable" location of each pairing. Note that I live in USA so some of those airports came to mind first, but I tried to do a good job of balancing countries (I believe there are 25 countries listed thus far).

01/19 - PEK
01R/19L - BKK
01L/19R - OSL
02R/20L - CAN
02C/20C - SIN
02L/20R - CAN
03/21 - LIS
03R/21L - DTW
03L/21R - JNB
04/22 - KMG
04R/22L - DTW
04L/22R - DTW
05/23 - YYZ
05R/23L - XIY
05L/23R - MEX
06R/24L - SVO
06/24 - MNL
06R/24L - LAX
06L/24R - YUL
07R/25L - HKG
07C/25C - FRA
07L/25R - LAX
08/26 - TLV
08R/26L - YVR
08L/26R - LAS
09/27 - BOM
09R/27L - LHR
09C/27C - ORD
09L/27R - LHR
10/28 - GIG
10R/28L - SFO
10C/28C - ORD
10L/28R - ORD
11/29 - DEL
12/30 - IAD
12R/30L - DXB
12L/30R - DXB
13/31 - BNA
13R/31L - JFK
13L/31R - BOG
14/32 - ZRH
14R/32L - MAD
14L/32R - KUL
15/33 - BHX
15R/33L - BOS (may be a bit biased, but this one's non-negotiable)
15L/33R - IAH
16/34 - ICN
16R/34L - DEN
16C/34C - SEA
16L/34R - DOH
17R/35L - PVG
17C/35C - DFW
17L/35R - YYC
18/36 - QIO
18R/36L - AMS
18C/36C - CLT
18L/36R - PEK

All that in mind, help me fill in the blanks! I'd be interested in updating (or amending) the list to be more comprehensive. I will certainly entertain changing particular selections that I've made, but not because someone says "change X/Y runway to Z airport because I think it should be." If you can convince me that there's another, more deserving candidate out there, I have no problem making a change, but I won't do so unless I feel that there's a legitimate claim.

Still looking for:

01C/19C
02/20
03C/21C
04C/22C
05C/22C
06C/24C
07/25
08C/26C
11R/29L
11C/29C
11L/29R
12C/30C
13C/31C
14C/32C
15C/33C
17/35

Factors used:

* What is the first airport I think of when I ponder airports with [runway number]?
* Length (both in total and relative to other runways at the airport)
* Size of airport (regionally and globally)

Notes:
1. The initial numbers listed were somewhat subjective judgments based on my own opinion. For example, it may well be that there is a "longer" 09R/27L than LHR's, but LHR is the first one that came to mind, and so I weighed that more heavily. Others, like choosing JNB's 03L/21R over DTW's 03L/21R, had me initially inclined to give it to DTW (mainly because it was the first one I thought of) but then when I looked at JNB and went "it's the longest runway at one of the world's biggest hot-and-high airports, I changed it from DTW to JNB.
2. With more "conventional" runway alignments -- e.g. things starting with 09 and 27 versus 11 and 29 -- there will generally be more "competition" (e.g. there will be lots of 12,000+ foot 09/27 runways whereas not as many 12,000+ foot 11/29 runways).
3. All of these runways are being chosen as pairs -- e.g. 13R/31L -- versus choosing 31L at JFK versus something else for 13R. I did take into account unidirectional runways (e.g. Polderbaan) when considering these things...and despite being unidirectional I still went for Polderbaan on 18R/36L.
4. I am aware that runways are re-numbered when the magnetic heading is no longer aligned with the runway in question (here in the USA I believe it is +/- 5 degrees). Also, does anyone know when these changes are mandated? For example I'm pretty sure BOS' 04R/22L is beyond that threshold (34/214 I believe) but hasn't been changed yet...I wonder if it will happen soon.

Close Calls:
* 08L/26R was down to LAS and CDG...CDG's runway is 13,829 but LAS' is 14,512. Despite it being shorter than LAS' I went for CDG on its superior passenger counts (#10 worldwide vs. #27).
* CDG was on the wrong end of a close defeat, losing out to LHR for 09R/27L despite CDG's being longer. I have nothing against CDG, just think that LHR as Europe's biggest airport (e.g. larger than CDG, the EU #2) with a comparably long runway deserved the slot. HYD was also considered but given the former two's positions in terms of global air traffic it was really a two-horse race.
* Almost went for LGW over YVR for 08R/26L, but YVR's superior pax counts and runway length did it. Choosing the other option would probably have been reasonable too given LGW is the largest single-runway usage airport in the world.
* MAD has a longer 18R/36L than AMS' "Polderbaan" but I went for the latter because who doesn't admire the Polderbaan?
* I initially went for MAN for 05R/23L but upon reflection went for XIY as it's much longer.
* 07R/25L at HKG and ADD are the (exact) same length (3800m), but I went with HKG because it's much bigger in terms of passenger counts.

The only 13C-31C that comes to mind is MDW. I can't think of a 15C-33C at all.

KTN airport (Ketchikan, AS) is the only one that comes to my mind having a 02/20 runway.

Edit: Now that I think of KTN, KTM is another one having a 02/20 runway.

AZA/KIWA has a 12C/30C
IAD has a 1C/19C

CHC comes to mind for 02/20

and SYD for 07/25

I'd propose changing 01/19 to DCA. PEK is on the list twice so why not spread the wealth?

TUS has 11L/29R (main runway) and an 11R/29L (narrow and doesn't get much use).

02/20 you'll find KMT (Kathmandu, Nepal).

MSY is probably the busiest airport with a 02/20. I’m not sure how we sort out “most deserving” between it and KTM.

The first airport I think of for 13/31 is BFI. When I see a "flyover" or air show video and see 13/31, the first thing I think of is BFI, regardless of what I am watching.

Neat thread. I'm not sure if they fit the criteria of "iconic", but both MSP and HOU have a 17/35


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For 13/31: Nothing is more iconic than the old Kai Tak runway .

Denver has 7/25 and 8/26 as well.

Technically they’re parallel, I guess their awkward orientation (not being side by side) warranted not having them being 7L/25R and 7R/25L.

You forgot 9/27 at SAN...between it being the most heavily reinforced runway in California (built by the military at the start of World War 2) and its incredibly scenic but very steep descent over Balboa Park, America's busiest single-runway airport (and second-busiest in the world, if my information is still correct) is definitely iconic!!

zuckie13 wrote:

TUS has 11L/29R (main runway) and an 11R/29L (narrow and doesn't get much use).

HAN also has 11L/29R and 11R/29L.

So perhaps 11L/29R = TUS (Slightly longer than the one at HAN), and 11R/29L = HAN?

P.S. For 17/35 I found one at MSP and one at HOU. Neither are exactly "primary" runway, though.

EDIT: For 16/34 perhaps the single runway at FUK is more "iconic" than the one at ICN (Which is just one of the 3 runways, and will be "gone" sooner or later after the 4th runway is complete, i.e. it'll become 16R/34L instead)

08R/26L - most iconic would be the "coral reef" runway at HNL...a backup for the Space Shuttle as well during that program's active years.

KOA has a single 17/35 runway...about 10,000 feet long.

LIH has a single 17/35 runway also.

Rounding out iconic Hawaiian runways for $500, Alex...

02/20 at OGG

Single runway only...about 7,700' and handles wide bodies as large as the 772 (United)

MSP has runway 4/22 and 17/35

zakuivcustom wrote:

zuckie13 wrote:

TUS has 11L/29R (main runway) and an 11R/29L (narrow and doesn't get much use).

HAN also has 11L/29R and 11R/29L.

So perhaps 11L/29R = TUS (Slightly longer than the one at HAN), and 11R/29L = HAN?

P.S. For 17/35 I found one at MSP and one at HOU. Neither are exactly "primary" runway, though.

EDIT: For 16/34 perhaps the single runway at FUK is more "iconic" than the one at ICN (Which is just one of the 3 runways, and will be "gone" sooner or later after the 4th runway is complete, i.e. it'll become 16R/34L instead)

17/35 is used very frequently for take offs, less frequently (though so happen) for landings.