The reason that Denver's runways are so long is down to the altitude at which the airport is situated. Colorado's capital is known as the 'Mile High City,' and, correspondingly, its airport finds itself situated 1,656 m / 5,434 ft above sea level.
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Denver International Airport (DEN) has six runways – five measure 12,000 feet in length (3,600 meters), and the sixth measures 16,000 feet – more than three miles long (4,800 meters). The 16,000-foot runway (16R/34L) is the longest commercial runway in North America.
The “thin air” at high elevations results in less lift on the aircraft. This means the aircraft has to travel faster to take off and therefore needs a longer runway to do so.
The Boeing 747 is considered to have the longest takeoff distance of the more common aircraft types and has set the standard for runway lengths of larger international airports. At sea level, 3,200 m (10,500 ft) can be considered an adequate length to land virtually any aircraft.
Reagan National (DCA), the smallest of three major airports serving Washington, D.C., averages 819 daily takeoffs and landings on its relatively short main runway – making it the most heavily utilized runway in the nation.
The extra length is needed in Denver's high elevation. Particularly for departures, larger, heavier planes need the additional space to get off the ground.
Although San Diego International Airport is not designated as an airline hub, its single runway is the busiest in the U.S. The airport brings in more than 20 million passengers a year, seeing roughly two million passengers per month this summer.
Yrausquin Airport. Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport has the shortest commercial runway in the entire world. At a mere 1,312 feet, it's around 4.6 times shorter than most runways.
Hilton Head Island Airport 5,000 feetHilton Head Island Airport on the southern coast of South Carolina is the smallest runway served by airliners in the US. Not only is the runway only 5,000 feet long, but its width is a mere 100 feet (50–100 feet narrower than a standard airline-use runway).
Located on the Western half of where Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport exists today. The families wished for the graves to remain in place when westward extension of this East to West runway was required during World War II.