The approx. 10,700 feet Wikipedia figure is for a fully loaded 747 at sea-level. The lighter the plane, the less runway it needs. The 7,500-foot runway at TNCM allows a takeoff at 84% of the maximum takeoff weight.

A Boeing 747-8, the largest and heaviest version of the "Queen of the Skies," typically requires a runway length of at least 10,000 to 11,000 feet (3,000 to 3,350 meters) at sea level for a maximum weight takeoff. The exact length depends on several high-fidelity variables: aircraft weight (fuel and cargo), air temperature, and the altitude of the airport. For example, at "high and hot" airports like Denver or Mexico City, where the air is thinner, the 747 might need nearly 13,000 feet of pavement to generate enough lift. On the landing side, a 747 can touch down safely on shorter runways—roughly 6,500 to 7,500 feet—thanks to its massive wing flaps and high-performance carbon brakes. However, for a fully loaded intercontinental flight, the standard for a "safe" commercial runway is generally 10,000 feet. This is why you primarily see 747s and other "wide-body" jets operating out of major international hubs like JFK, Heathrow, or Singapore, which are specifically built with the massive concrete foundations required to support the 987,000-lb maximum takeoff weight of these giants.