Runway 13R-31L is 14,511 feet long by 200 feet wide and is one of the longest commercial runways in North America.

The longest runway at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York is Runway 13R/31L, also famously known as the "Bay Runway." It measures an impressive 14,511 feet (4,423 meters) in length. This runway is one of the longest commercial runways in the United States and was actually designated as a backup landing site for the NASA Space Shuttle due to its immense size and durability. The "Bay Runway" underwent a massive reconstruction in 2010 to replace its asphalt with high-durability concrete designed to last 40 years. Its length is necessary because JFK serves as a major global hub for some of the world's heaviest aircraft, such as the Airbus A380 and fully-loaded Boeing 747-8 freighters, which require significant distance to reach takeoff speed, especially on hot summer days when the air is less dense. Having such a long runway allows these massive jets to depart with maximum fuel and cargo loads for non-stop flights to distant destinations like Hong Kong or Johannesburg. Most of JFK's other three runways are also substantial, but none come close to the nearly 2.75-mile stretch of 13R/31L.