Philadelphia International (KPHL), Pennsylvania
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Philadelphia International Airport (KPHL) is a Level 1 towered field serving the Philadelphia metro area, located roughly 5 nautical miles from the city center. The airport recorded 319,531 total annual operations in 2025 per FAA TFMSC data, with 24,427 of those attributed to business aviation. Four paved asphalt runways, including a 12,000-foot primary, support a wide range of aircraft categories, and both 100LL and Jet A fuel are available on an all-day, every-day attendance schedule. On-site CBP inspection services and a USDA compliance agreement support international operations directly at the field.
Runways
Philadelphia International has four paved runways. The longest, 09R/27L, is 12,000 ft long and 200 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Philadelphia International has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available 24 hours a day, every day, and the airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Philadelphia International has US Customs and Border Protection clearance available onsite, with general clearance for international arrivals. A USDA compliance agreement is in place.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Philadelphia International recorded 24,427 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in October. Business aviation traffic at KPHL is concentrated toward the fall months, with October showing the highest monthly volume of the year according to FAA TFMSC data.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month October, 2,542 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Philadelphia International averages 12.5 days above 90°F in July, 22.5 freeze days in January and 1.9 snow days in February. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 87.8°F, and January the coldest, at 41.3°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Philadelphia International has published operating constraints in six categories: access, runway notes, noise procedures, environmental, pavement strength and other notes.
All engine runups require prior permission from the duty operations officer. Runups are limited to 20 minutes maximum.
Only nose-in parking is permitted on the north remote aprons. Prior permission is required from airport operations for all aircraft parking on remote aprons; contact airport operations.
Possible unmarked ship obstructions transit east or west along the Delaware River, reaching heights of up to 189 feet. Crews should be alert when approaching Runway 35, and whenever circling or visually approaching all other runways at Philadelphia International.
Land on Runway 26, takeoff on Runway 08.
Runways 27L, 27R, and 35 are affected by ship traffic in the Delaware River shipping channel, with ships reaching a maximum height of 189 feet. Runway 26 is affected by ship traffic in the Schuylkill River channel, with ships reaching a maximum height of 149 feet.
Runway 09R rollout RVR is used for the Runway 09L midpoint RVR.
The airport is located in a noise-sensitive area. Airport noise abatement takeoff procedures are to be used.
Birds on and in the vicinity of the airport.
PCR VALUE: 317/F/B/X/T
PCR VALUE: 702/F/B/W/T
PCR VALUE: 839/F/C/W/T
PCR VALUE: 554/F/C/W/T
The PAPI is unusable beyond 8 degrees right of centerline.
TCAS-equipped aircraft may receive a TCAS alert caused by transponder-equipped ships located at the Philadelphia Naval Base, 3 nautical miles east of the airport.
There is an unlighted stack 288 feet MSL (271 feet AGL) 2.3 nautical miles southwest of the airport.
All aircraft traveling on Taxiway J must use minimum power when turning south, due to jetblast concerns.
Taxiway J between Taxiways K3 and Q is restricted to aircraft with wingspans of 171 feet or less.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Philadelphia International has five airfields within 21 NM. The closest is Wings Field (KLOM), 15.98 NM north.
Part of the Philadelphia area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KPHL
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$2,400.00 catering order at KPHL.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the longest runway at KPHL?
Philadelphia International's longest runway is 09R/27L, at 12,000 feet long and 200 feet wide with an asphalt surface. This is the longest of four runways at KPHL, and the airport also carries a 12,000-foot max paved runway length figure consistent with this strip. The parallel 09L/27R runs 9,500 feet by 150 feet, also asphalt. Two crosswind runways, 17/35 at 6,500 feet and 08/26 at 5,001 feet, round out the airfield. The combination gives dispatchers multiple options across a range of aircraft categories and wind conditions.
Is customs available on-site at KPHL, or PHL?
Yes, Philadelphia International (KPHL) has customs available on-site. CBP inspection services are offered directly at the airport, and a USDA compliance agreement is also in place. This combination supports international arrivals without requiring a diversion to a nearby customs airport of entry. Operators should still confirm current procedural requirements ahead of arrival, since inspection availability at a towered field like PHL is subject to standard federal scheduling and coordination practices.
Are there any taxiway restrictions dispatchers should know about at KPHL?
Yes, Philadelphia International has a specific taxiway wingspan restriction. The segment of Taxiway J between Taxiways K3 and Q is restricted to aircraft with wingspans of 171 feet or less. Separately, all aircraft traveling on Taxiway J must use minimum power when turning south, due to jetblast concerns in that area. These constraints matter for operators of large widebody aircraft planning ground routing at KPHL, and they should be factored into taxi planning for applicable aircraft types.
Why does landing runway differ from takeoff runway on the 08/26 pair at KPHL?
At Philadelphia International, published guidance calls for landing on Runway 26 and takeoff on Runway 08. This one-way operational pattern is noted directly in KPHL's airport remarks rather than tied to a specific stated cause. Dispatchers planning operations on this runway pair should apply this designated landing and departure direction rather than assuming reciprocal use is available on demand. This affects flow planning particularly when the primary runway system is unavailable or during specific traffic configurations.
What obstacles or hazards are noted near KPHL that affect approaches?
Philadelphia International sits near the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, and ship traffic on both waterways is treated as a factor in airport remarks. Ships on the Delaware River, affecting Runways 27L, 27R, and 35, can reach heights up to 189 feet, while vessels in the Schuylkill River channel affecting Runway 26 reach up to 149 feet. An unlighted stack 288 feet MSL (271 feet AGL) sits 2.3 nautical miles southwest of the airport. Crews are advised to remain alert for unmarked ship obstructions along the Delaware River when approaching Runway 35 or circling or visually approaching other runways at PHL.