Nonstop flight route between Buka Island, Papua New Guinea and Sandakan, Malaysia:
Departure Airport:
(5°25'19"S by 154°40'21"E)
Arrival Airport:
(5°54'6"N by 118°2'54"E)
Distance from BUA to SDK:
2,644.67 miles (4,256.18 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- BUA Airport Information
- SDK Airport Information
- Facts about BUA
- Facts about SDK
- Map of Nearest Airports to BUA
- List of Nearest Airports to BUA
- Map of Furthest Airports from BUA
- List of Furthest Airports from BUA
- Map of Nearest Airports to SDK
- List of Nearest Airports to SDK
- Map of Furthest Airports from SDK
- List of Furthest Airports from SDK
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Buka Island Airport (BUA), Buka Island, Papua New Guinea and Sandakan Airport (SDK), Sandakan, Malaysia would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,645 miles (or 4,256 kilometers).
A Great Circle is the shortest distance between 2 points on a sphere. Because most world maps are flat (but the Earth is round), the route of the shortest distance between 2 points on the Earth will often appear curved when viewed on a flat map, especially for long distances. If you were to simply draw a straight line on a flat map and measure a very long distance, it would likely be much further than if you were to lay a string between those two points on a globe. Because of the large distance between Buka Island Airport and Sandakan Airport, the route shown on this map most likely appears curved because of this reason.
Try it at home! Get a globe and tightly lay a string between Buka Island Airport and Sandakan Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | BUA / AYBK |
| Airport Name: | Buka Island Airport |
| Location: | Buka Island, Papua New Guinea |
| GPS Coordinates: | 5°25'19"S by 154°40'21"E |
| Area Served: | Buka Island, Papua New Guinea |
| Operator/Owner: | Government |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 11 feet (3 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from BUA |
| More Information: | BUA Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SDK / WBKS |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Sandakan, Malaysia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 5°54'6"N by 118°2'54"E |
| Area Served: | Sandakan Division, Sabah, East Malaysia |
| Operator/Owner: | Government of Malaysia |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 46 feet (14 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SDK |
| More Information: | SDK Maps & Info |
Facts about Buka Island Airport (BUA):
- Because of Buka Island Airport's relatively low elevation of 11 feet, planes can take off or land at Buka Island Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
- Today the airport is the primary air portal into Bougainville, and even 60 years after the war, wreckage from the military use of the airfield by the Japanese and Americans is easily found in the area.
- In 2004, the airport experienced some closures due to land disputes.
- The furthest airport from Buka Island Airport (BUA) is São Filipe Airport (SFL), which is located 11,781 miles (18,959 kilometers) away in Fogo, Cape Verde.
- The closest airport to Buka Island Airport (BUA) is Nissan Island Airport (IIS), which is located 71 miles (114 kilometers) NNW of BUA.
- Buka Island Airport (BUA) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about Sandakan Airport (SDK):
- The closest airport to Sandakan Airport (SDK) is Lahad Datu Airport (LDU), which is located 63 miles (101 kilometers) SSE of SDK.
- Because of Sandakan Airport's relatively low elevation of 46 feet, planes can take off or land at Sandakan Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
- Sandakan Airport handled 911,855 passengers last year.
- The furthest airport from Sandakan Airport (SDK) is Coari Airport (CIZ), which is nearly antipodal to Sandakan Airport (meaning Sandakan Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Coari Airport), and is located 12,290 miles (19,779 kilometers) away in Coari, Amazonas, Brazil.
- In addition to being known as "Sandakan Airport", other names for SDK include "Lapangan Terbang Sandakan" and "山打根机场".
- Sandakan Airport (SDK) currently has only 1 runway.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 70.73 miles (113.82 km) NNW | Nissan Island Airport (IIS) | Nissan Island, Papua New Guinea |     |
| 2 | 94.46 miles (152.01 km) SE | Kieta/Aropa Airport (KIE) | Kieta, Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 3 | 136.91 miles (220.34 km) SE | Balalae Airport (BAS) | Ballalae, Solomon Islands | |
| 4 | 148.20 miles (238.51 km) SE | Choiseul Bay Airport (CHY) | Choiseul Bay, Taro Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 5 | 150.79 miles (242.66 km) SSE | Mono Airport (MNY) | Stirling Island, Treasury Islands, Solomon Islands | |
| 6 | 174.66 miles (281.09 km) WNW | Rabaul Airport (RAB) | Rabaul, Papua New Guinea | |
| 7 | 195.74 miles (315.01 km) NW | Namatanai Airport (ATN) | Namatanai, Papua New Guinea | |
| 8 | 198.38 miles (319.26 km) W | Manguna Airport (MFO) | Manguna, Papua New Guinea | |
| 9 | 216.52 miles (348.46 km) NW | Lihir Island Regional Airport (LNV) | Londolovit, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 10 | 218.28 miles (351.28 km) W | Jacquinot Bay Airport (JAQ) | Jacquinot Bay, Papua New Guinea | |
| 11 | 238.34 miles (383.57 km) SE | Nusatupe Airport (GZO) | Gizo / Nusatupe, Western Province, Solomon Islands | |
| 12 | 239.73 miles (385.81 km) ESE | Kaghau Airport (KGE) | Kagau Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 13 | 268.10 miles (431.47 km) SE | Munda Airport (MUA) | Munda, New Georgia Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 14 | 288.56 miles (464.39 km) SSW | Guasopa Airport (GAZ) | Guasopa, Papua New Guinea | |
| 15 | 293.54 miles (472.41 km) W | Hoskins Airport (HKN) | Hoskins, Papua New Guinea | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,780.59 miles (18,958.98 km) N | São Filipe Airport (SFL) | Fogo, Cape Verde | |
| 2 | 11,768.57 miles (18,939.63 km) N | Praia International Airport (RAI) | Praia, Cape Verde | |
| 3 | 11,768.55 miles (18,939.59 km) N | Mosteiros Airport (MTI) | Mosteiros, Cape Verde | |
| 4 | 11,749.15 miles (18,908.38 km) NNW | Maio Airport (MMO) | Maio, Cape Verde | |
| 5 | 11,678.23 miles (18,794.25 km) NNW | Aristides Pereira International Airport (BVC) | Boa Vista, Cape Verde | |
| 6 | 11,678.02 miles (18,793.91 km) NW | Cap Skirring Airport (CSK) | Cap Skirring, Senegal | |
| 7 | 11,671.84 miles (18,783.96 km) WNW | Bubaque Airport (BQE) | Bubaque, Guinea-Bissau | |
| 8 | 11,662.10 miles (18,768.29 km) N | Preguiça Airport (SNE) | São Nicolau, Cape Verde | |
| 9 | 11,648.17 miles (18,745.87 km) N | Cesária Évora International Airport (VXE) | São Vicente, Cape Verde | |
| 10 | 11,647.20 miles (18,744.31 km) NW | Ziguinchor Airport (ZIG) | Ziguinchor, Senegal | |
| 11 | 11,639.22 miles (18,731.47 km) NW | Osvaldo Vieira International Airport (OXB) | Bissau, Guinea-Bissau | |
| 12 | 11,638.24 miles (18,729.88 km) NNW | Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID) | Sal Island, Cape Verde | |
| 13 | 11,631.66 miles (18,719.29 km) NW | Banjul International Airport (BJL) | Banjul, Gambia | |
| 14 | 11,629.96 miles (18,716.56 km) NE | Governador Carlos Wilson Airport (FEN) | Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil | |
| 15 | 11,622.66 miles (18,704.82 km) N | Agostinho Neto Airport (NTO) | Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, Cape Verde | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 62.87 miles (101.18 km) SSE | Lahad Datu Airport (LDU) | Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia | |
| 2 | 107.17 miles (172.47 km) SSE | Semporna Airport (SMM) | Sabah, Malaysia | |
| 3 | 109.46 miles (176.16 km) NW | Kudat Airport (KUD) | Kudat, Sabah, Malaysia | |
| 4 | 109.86 miles (176.80 km) S | Tawau Airport (TWU) | Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia | |
| 5 | 124.75 miles (200.76 km) SSW | Nunukan Airport (NNX) | Nunukan, East Kalimantan, Indonesia | |
| 6 | 130.63 miles (210.23 km) ESE | Sanga-Sanga Airport (TWT) | Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, Philippines | |
| 7 | 134.91 miles (217.11 km) WSW | Lapangan Terbang Keningau Keningau Airport (KGU) | Keningau, Sabah, Malaysia | |
| 8 | 136.79 miles (220.15 km) W | Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) | Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia | |
| 9 | 169.45 miles (272.71 km) S | Bunyu Airport (BYQ) | Bunyu, Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia | |
| 10 | 181.00 miles (291.29 km) S | Juwata Airport (TRK) | Tarakan, East Kalimantan, Indonesia | |
| 11 | 190.60 miles (306.75 km) WSW | Long Pasia Airport (GSA) | Long Pasia, Sabah, Malaysia | |
| 12 | 195.99 miles (315.42 km) WSW | Lawas Airport (LWY) | Lawas, Sarawak, Malaysia | |
| 13 | 196.97 miles (316.99 km) WSW | Labuan Airport (LBU) | Labuan, Sabah, Malaysia | |
| 14 | 198.97 miles (320.22 km) WSW | Long Sukang Airport (LSU) | Long Sukang, Sarawak, Malaysia | |
| 15 | 203.85 miles (328.06 km) E | Jolo Airport (JOL) | Jolo, Sulu, Philippines | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,290.13 miles (19,779.00 km) SSE | Coari Airport (CIZ) | Coari, Amazonas, Brazil | |
| 2 | 12,221.21 miles (19,668.08 km) ESE | Lábrea Airport (LBR) | Lábrea, Amazonas, Brazil | |
| 3 | 12,203.21 miles (19,639.11 km) SW | Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) | Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil | |
| 4 | 12,200.94 miles (19,635.47 km) SE | Porto Velho-Governador Jorge Teixeira de Oliveira International Airport (Belmonte) (PVH) | Porto Velho, Brazil | |
| 5 | 12,199.72 miles (19,633.50 km) SSW | Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes–Manaus International Airport (MAO) | Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil | |
| 6 | 12,178.27 miles (19,598.98 km) SE | Tefé Airport (TFF) | Tefé, Amazonas, Brazil | |
| 7 | 12,096.02 miles (19,466.61 km) WSW | Maués Airport (MBZ) | Maués, Amazonas, Brazil | |
| 8 | 12,093.41 miles (19,462.40 km) S | José Coleto Airport (JPR) | Ji-Paraná, Rondônia, Brazil | |
| 9 | 12,090.32 miles (19,457.43 km) S | Barcelos Airport (BAZ) | Barcelos, Amazonas, Brazil | |
| 10 | 12,089.44 miles (19,456.01 km) ESE | Carauari Airport (CAF) | Carauari, Amazonas, Brazil | |
| 11 | 12,088.81 miles (19,455.00 km) SSW | Aripuanã Airport (AIR) | Aripuanã, Mato Grosso, Brazil | |
| 12 | 12,051.25 miles (19,394.56 km) SW | Juruena Airport (JRN) | Juruena, Mato Grosso, Brazil | |
| 13 | 12,025.26 miles (19,352.73 km) SE | Guayaramerín Airport (GYA) | Guayaramerín, Bolivia | |
| 14 | 12,015.81 miles (19,337.52 km) WSW | Júlio Belém Airport (PIN) | Parintins, Amazonas, Brazil | |
| 15 | 12,011.53 miles (19,330.64 km) WSW | Itaituba Airport (ITB) | Itaituba, Pará, Brazil | |