# Why do most airports have few runways? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 16, 2014, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-most-airports-have-few-runways/695685 "2014-08-16T14:55:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-most-airports-have-few-runways/695685/61 "2014-08-19T03:32:01Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Airports are located near places where people live. If they’re not, they’re rarely used or they immediately get surrounded by homes. Really? Not IME. Obviously “near” is a relative term. But if you were to ask me to name something associated with a city, but that is usually very far from the centre, or any residential areas, my first thought would be the airport. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-most-airports-have-few-runways/695685/62 "2014-08-19T04:30:12Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > So, is it no longer preferred for aircraft to take off and land into the wind? Not that it is relevant to LSLGuy’s story, but no, landing and taking off into wind is often not the primary factor in the choice of runway. Traffic flow and noise abatement trump wind direction provided the wind not too strong. In fact I regularly fly into Sydney during curfew. Of the six runways it has (including reciprocals) we are allowed to land on one only and can take up to 20 knots of tail wind, any more than that and we go somewhere else. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-most-airports-have-few-runways/695685.md?page=3)