Nonstop flight route between Kivalina, Alaska, United States and Buka Island, Papua New Guinea:
Departure Airport:
(67°44'9"N by 164°33'48"W)
Arrival Airport:
(5°25'19"S by 154°40'21"E)
Distance from KVL to BUA:
5,428.43 miles (8,736.20 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- KVL Airport Information
- BUA Airport Information
- Facts about KVL
- Facts about BUA
- Map of Nearest Airports to KVL
- List of Nearest Airports to KVL
- Map of Furthest Airports from KVL
- List of Furthest Airports from KVL
- Map of Nearest Airports to BUA
- List of Nearest Airports to BUA
- Map of Furthest Airports from BUA
- List of Furthest Airports from BUA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Kivalina Airport (KVL), Kivalina, Alaska, United States and Buka Island Airport (BUA), Buka Island, Papua New Guinea would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,428 miles (or 8,736 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 Kivalina Airport and Buka Island 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 Kivalina Airport and Buka Island Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | KVL / PAVL |
| Airport Name: | Kivalina Airport |
| Location: | Kivalina, Alaska, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 67°44'9"N by 164°33'48"W |
| Operator/Owner: | State of Alaska DOT&PF - Northern Region |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 13 feet (4 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from KVL |
| More Information: | KVL Maps & Info |
Arrival 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 |
Facts about Kivalina Airport (KVL):
- Because of Kivalina Airport's relatively low elevation of 13 feet, planes can take off or land at Kivalina 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.
- The closest airport to Kivalina Airport (KVL) is Noatak Airport (WTK), which is located 43 miles (70 kilometers) ESE of KVL.
- The furthest airport from Kivalina Airport (KVL) is Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Airport (TNM), which is located 10,364 miles (16,679 kilometers) away in Villa Las Estrellas, Antarctica.
- Kivalina Airport (KVL) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about Buka Island Airport (BUA):
- Buka Airport is an airport serving Buka Island in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea.
- 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.
- Buka Island Airport (BUA) currently has only 1 runway.
- 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.
- The origins of the airfield begin in 1941 when Australian troops built gun pits around a primitive airstrip in December 1941.
- There is one navigational aid, the Buka NDB situated on nearby Sohano Island.
- In 2004, the airport experienced some closures due to land disputes.
- The closest airport to Buka Island Airport (BUA) is Nissan Island Airport (IIS), which is located 71 miles (114 kilometers) NNW of 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.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 43.32 miles (69.72 km) ESE | Noatak Airport (WTK) | Noatak, Alaska, United States |     |
| 2 | 71.61 miles (115.25 km) NW | Point Hope Airport (PHO) | Point Hope, Alaska, United States | |
| 3 | 78.75 miles (126.74 km) SE | Ralph Wien Memorial Airport (OTZ) | Kotzebue, Alaska, United States | |
| 4 | 88.05 miles (141.71 km) NNW | Cape Lisburne LRRS Airport (LUR) | Cape Lisburne, Alaska, United States | |
| 5 | 110.67 miles (178.10 km) SSW | Shishmaref Airport (SHH) | Shishmaref, Alaska, United States | |
| 6 | 113.82 miles (183.18 km) ESE | Robert (Bob) Curtis Memorial Airport (ORV) | Noorvik, Alaska, United States | |
| 7 | 121.67 miles (195.81 km) ESE | Bob Baker Memorial Airport (IAN) | Kiana, Alaska, United States | |
| 8 | 125.02 miles (201.20 km) SSE | Deering Airport (DRG) | Deering, Alaska, United States | |
| 9 | 143.29 miles (230.60 km) NNE | Point Lay LRRS Airport (PIZ) | Point Lay, Alaska, United States | |
| 10 | 145.63 miles (234.37 km) ESE | Selawik Airport (WLK) | Selawik, Alaska, United States | |
| 11 | 152.57 miles (245.53 km) SE | Buckland Airport (BKC) | Buckland, Alaska, United States | |
| 12 | 174.18 miles (280.31 km) SSW | Brevig Mission Airport (KTS) | Brevig Mission, Alaska, United States | |
| 13 | 175.03 miles (281.69 km) SW | Wales Airport (WAA) | Wales, Alaska, United States | |
| 14 | 176.01 miles (283.26 km) SSW | Tin City LRRS Airport (TNC) | Tin City, Alaska, United States | |
| 15 | 176.72 miles (284.40 km) SSW | Lost River 1 Airport (LSR) | Lost River, Alaska, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,364.05 miles (16,679.28 km) ESE | Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Airport (TNM) | Villa Las Estrellas, Antarctica | |
| 2 | 10,100.34 miles (16,254.89 km) S | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Cape Town, South Africa | |
| 3 | 10,089.94 miles (16,238.15 km) S | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 4 | 10,069.84 miles (16,205.79 km) SSW | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 5 | 10,031.19 miles (16,143.59 km) SSW | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 6 | 9,988.26 miles (16,074.50 km) SSW | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 7 | 9,879.36 miles (15,899.24 km) SSW | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 8 | 9,849.77 miles (15,851.62 km) ESE | Port Stanley Airport (PSY) | Stanley, Falkland Islands, United Kingdom | |
| 9 | 9,840.28 miles (15,836.35 km) ESE | RAF Mount Pleasant (MPN) | Falkland Islands | |
| 10 | 9,817.51 miles (15,799.72 km) SSW | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 11 | 9,806.72 miles (15,782.35 km) S | Kleinsee Airport (KLZ) | Kleinzee, South Africa | |
| 12 | 9,776.20 miles (15,733.23 km) S | Aggeneys Airport (AGZ) | Aggeneys, South Africa | |
| 13 | 9,776.20 miles (15,733.23 km) S | Wild Coast Sun Airport (MZF) | Mzamba, South Africa | |
| 14 | 9,771.25 miles (15,725.27 km) SSW | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 9,767.53 miles (15,719.28 km) SSW | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 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 | |