
El Alto International Airport, also known as La Paz Airport, is located in Bolivia, 13 kilometres west of La Paz. At 4,061.5 metres (13,325 ft) above sea level, it is the highest international airport in the world. Its elevation is so high that pilots must increase takeoff, approach and landing speed to account for the reduced air density. The airport is also a central gateway to Bolivia's capital, La Paz, the world's highest capital city.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Name | El Alto International Airport |
Location | El Alto, Bolivia |
Distance from La Paz | 13 kilometres (8 miles) west |
Elevation | 4,061.5 metres (13,325 ft) above sea level |
Runway length | 4,000 metres |
Coordinates | 16.5133° S latitude and 68.1926° W longitude |
What You'll Learn
- El Alto International Airport is the world's highest international airport
- The airport is located in the city of El Alto, 13 kilometres west of La Paz
- La Paz is the world's highest capital city
- The airport has a single asphalt runway for takeoffs and landings
- Pilots must increase takeoff, approach, and landing speed to account for reduced air density
El Alto International Airport is the world's highest international airport
The airport's highly unconventional location inside the Andean plateau lends to stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Despite the high-altitude challenges, El Alto International Airport plays a pivotal role in connecting Bolivia to the global air route system and the rest of the world. The airport features a single asphalt runway that is 4,000 metres long, well-equipped to handle a variety of commercial aircraft, including long-haul international wide-body flights.
Due to the high altitude, pilots must increase takeoff, approach, and landing speed to account for the reduced air density. The airport is equipped with standard navigational aids, such as Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), that assist pilots during low-visibility weather conditions. Additionally, technological enhancements like auto-land-capable airport equipment accommodate Autoland-enabled aircraft, enhancing safety and providing a smoother experience for passengers and flight crews.
El Alto International Airport is often used by aircraft manufacturers to test high-altitude take-offs and landings. The high altitude also means that supplemental oxygen is needed at the gate.
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The airport is located in the city of El Alto, 13 kilometres west of La Paz
El Alto International Airport is located in the city of El Alto, 13 kilometres (8 miles) west of La Paz, Bolivia. The airport is 4,061.5 metres (13,325 ft) above sea level, making it the highest international airport in the world. It is also the seventh highest commercial airport in the world and the highest commercial airport outside of China.
The airport has been in service since the first half of the 20th century, but was modernised in the late 1960s, when its runway was lengthened and a new passenger terminal with modern facilities was built. Today, it is a central gateway to the country's capital, La Paz, and plays a pivotal role in connecting Bolivia to the global air route system.
The airport's highly unconventional location inside the Andean plateau lends to stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Its high altitude also presents challenges, and supplemental oxygen is needed at the gate. Pilots must increase takeoff, approach, and landing speed to account for the reduced air density.
Despite these challenges, El Alto International Airport is well-equipped to handle a variety of commercial aircraft, including long-haul international wide-body flights. The airport features a single asphalt runway that stretches 4,000 meters in length, longer than the average runway.
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La Paz is the world's highest capital city
The airport's highly unconventional location inside the Andean plateau lends to stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Despite the high-altitude challenges, La Paz El Alto Airport plays a pivotal role in connecting Bolivia to the global air route system and the rest of the world. The airport features a single asphalt runway for takeoffs and landings, which stretches some 4,000 metres in length. This longer-than-average runway is well-equipped to handle a variety of commercial aircraft, including long-haul international wide-body flights.
Due to the high altitude, pilots must increase takeoff, approach, and landing speed to account for the reduced air density. The airport is equipped with standard navigational aids, such as Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) that assist pilots during low-visibility weather conditions. Other technological enhancements, such as auto-land-capable airport equipment, accommodate Autoland-enabled aircraft, enhancing safety and providing a smoother experience for passengers and flight crews.
Bolivia draws many visitors yearly with its unique Bolivian culture, stunning landscapes, and vibrant and friendly local atmosphere. Set high in the Andes, La Paz offers a rare experience for anyone seeking adventure and genuine cultural immersion.
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The airport has a single asphalt runway for takeoffs and landings
El Alto International Airport, also known as La Paz El Alto Airport, is located in the city of El Alto, 13 kilometres (8 miles) west of La Paz, Bolivia. At an elevation of 4,061.5 metres (13,325 ft), it is the highest international airport in the world. The airport has been in service since the first half of the 20th century, but was modernised in the late 1960s, when its runway was lengthened and a new passenger terminal with modern facilities was built.
The airport features a single asphalt runway for takeoffs and landings. Runway 10/28 stretches some 4,000 metres in length. This longer-than-average runway is well-equipped to handle a variety of commercial aircraft, including long-haul international wide-body flights. Pilots must increase takeoff, approach, and landing speed to account for the reduced air density at such a high altitude. The airport is equipped with the standard navigational aids found at most airports today, such as Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) that assist pilots during low-visibility weather conditions. Other technological enhancements, such as auto-land-capable airport equipment, can accommodate Autoland-enabled aircraft. This enhances safety and allows for a smoother experience for passengers and flight crews.
The airport's highly unconventional location inside the interior of the Andean plateau lends to stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Despite the high-altitude challenges, La Paz El Alto Airport plays a pivotal role in connecting Bolivia to the global air route system and, ultimately, the rest of the world. It is also often used by aircraft manufacturers to test high-altitude take-offs and landings.
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Pilots must increase takeoff, approach, and landing speed to account for reduced air density
El Alto International Airport (IATA: LPB, ICAO: SLLP) is the world's highest international airport, located 4,061.5 metres (13,325 ft) above sea level. It is situated in the city of El Alto, 13 kilometres (8 miles) west of La Paz, Bolivia. The airport's runway is longer than average at 4,000 metres, and it is well-equipped to handle a variety of commercial aircraft, including long-haul international wide-body flights.
Due to the high altitude of the airport, pilots must increase takeoff, approach, and landing speed to account for the reduced air density. This is a crucial safety protocol, and pilots are assisted by standard navigational aids such as Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) and auto-land-capable airport equipment, which enhance safety and allow for a smoother experience for passengers and flight crews.
The high-altitude location of the airport inside the Andean plateau offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. However, it also presents challenges, such as the need for supplemental oxygen at the gate. Despite these challenges, La Paz El Alto Airport plays a pivotal role in connecting Bolivia to the global air route system and the rest of the world.
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Frequently asked questions
La Paz El Alto Airport is 4,061.5 metres (13,325 ft) above sea level.
Yes, it is the highest international airport in the world and the seventh highest commercial airport.
La Paz airport is located in the Andean plateau, which lends to stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
Pilots must increase takeoff, approach, and landing speed to account for the reduced air density. Supplemental oxygen is also needed at the gate.