Nashville Airport runways and wind today
Nashville International Airport (BNA, KBNA) has 4 runways: 13/31, 02C/20C, 02R/20L, 02L/20R. It serves Nashville, USA. Below you can see the latest wind and weather report, how that wind lines up with every runway end, and what the layout means for how the airport works.
Nashville Airport runway layout
The runways fall into two groups, running north-west to south-east and north-south. With two directions to choose from, one group usually points reasonably close to the wind. Headings are true (not magnetic), so they differ from the runway number by the local magnetic variation.
| Runway | Length | Width | True headings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 / 31 | 3,362 m (11,030 ft) | 46 m | 133° / 313° |
| 02C / 20C | 2,439 m (8,002 ft) | 46 m | 018° / 198° |
| 02R / 20L | 2,439 m (8,002 ft) | 46 m | 018° / 198° |
| 02L / 20R | 2,348 m (7,703 ft) | 46 m | 018° / 198° |
How the wind decides which runway is used
Aircraft take off and land into the wind whenever they can. A headwind slows the ground speed at touchdown, shortens the runway needed and gives better control. A tailwind does the opposite, so airports normally limit it to a few knots. A crosswind (wind across the runway) is harder on the pilots, and large jets have a limit on how much they can accept.
Each runway has two ends, numbered by compass heading divided by ten, so 27 points west and 09 points east. The same strip of tarmac is used in either direction depending on the wind, and parallel runways add L, C and R (left, centre, right) to tell them apart.
Nashville Airport airport notes
Nashville has three parallel runways running roughly north-north-east to south-south-west (02L/20R, 02C/20C and 02R/20L), plus a fourth, 13/31, set diagonally across them. The diagonal runway is the longest, at about 11,000 ft (3.4 km), and gives the airport an option when the wind blows across the parallels. The code BNA comes from Berry Field, the airport's original name, after Colonel Harry S. Berry, who oversaw its construction in the 1930s.
Renaming for Dolly Parton
Nashville International is being renamed in honour of Dolly Parton, who died on 25 August 2026. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee proposed the change in late August, and on 11 September 2026 the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority board voted 6-0 to begin the process. The final name has not been confirmed (Dolly Parton International Airport is the name most often reported), and officials expect the change to take months. Until it takes effect, the airport keeps its current name, and flights and bookings still use the code BNA.
Flight numbers in her honour
Airlines have marked the connection with flight numbers. Aer Lingus renumbered its Dublin to Nashville flight EI95, after her song "9 to 5", from 25 October 2026 (the return flight is EI92). Air France's new Paris to Nashville route, starting on 14 May 2027, will fly as AF046, for 1946, the year she was born. Allegiant ran two Dollywood-themed flights numbered 925 and 2925, also after "9 to 5", from Orlando Sanford to Knoxville on 6 November 2026.
- Airport:
- Nashville International Airport
- Codes:
- BNA / KBNA
- Location:
- Nashville, USA
- Elevation:
- 599 ft (183 m)
- Runways:
- 4
- Longest runway:
- 13/31, 3,362 m
Frequently asked questions
Which runway is Nashville Airport using today?
AeroGaze can't see air traffic control's runway plan. It shows the latest wind from the KBNA METAR set against each of the 4 runways: aircraft take off and land into the wind where they can, so the runway ends with the strongest headwind are the likely candidates. Noise rules, traffic and the forecast also play a part, so treat it as a guide, not a fact.
How many runways does Nashville Airport have?
Nashville International Airport has 4 runways: 13/31, 02C/20C, 02R/20L, 02L/20R. The runways fall into two groups, running north-west to south-east and north-south. With two directions to choose from, one group usually points reasonably close to the wind.
What is the longest runway at Nashville Airport?
Runway 13/31, at 3,362 m (11,030 ft) long and 46 m wide.
How much crosswind is too much for an airliner?
There is no single limit. Each aircraft type has a demonstrated crosswind figure, commonly in the range of 30 to 40 knots for large jets, airlines set their own limits (often lower on wet or contaminated runways), and the pilots decide on the day. When a strong wind blows across the runways at Nashville Airport, you see more go-arounds and diversions.
Where does the Nashville Airport weather come from?
From the METAR reports that NOAA's Aviation Weather Center publishes for KBNA, refreshed about every ten minutes. A METAR is usually issued once an hour, and sooner if conditions change, so the observation time on the page shows how fresh the report is.
What do VFR, MVFR, IFR and LIFR mean?
They are flight categories based on cloud height and visibility. VFR: cloud base above 3,000 ft and visibility over 5 miles. MVFR (marginal): 1,000 to 3,000 ft or 3 to 5 miles. IFR: 500 to 1,000 ft or 1 to 3 miles. LIFR: below 500 ft or under 1 mile. The lower the category, the more spacing between aircraft and the more delays.
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Sources: wind and weather from the NOAA Aviation Weather Center (METAR). Runway coordinates from OurAirports (public domain); runway notes are editorial. AeroGaze is an independent site, not affiliated with any airport or air traffic service.