Nonstop flight route between Atlanta, Georgia, United States and Hambantota, Sri Lanka:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Atlanta, Georgia, United States and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI), Hambantota, Sri Lanka would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,520 miles (or 15,322 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 Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Mattala Rajapaksa International 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 Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL):

• In October 1940 the U.S.
• The closest airport to Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is Morris Army Airfield (Fort Gillem) (FOP), which is located only 5 miles (8 kilometers) E of ATL.
• Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has 5 runways.
• Atlanta City Council voted on October 20, 2003 to change the name from Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport to the current Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, in honor of former mayor Maynard Jackson, who died on June 23, 2003.
• Along with the construction of the fifth runway, a new control tower was built to see the entire length of the runway.
• Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport handled 95,462,867 passengers last year.
• Hartsfield–Jackson had its beginnings with a five-year, rent-free lease on 287 acres that was the home of an abandoned auto racetrack named The Atlanta Speedway.
• In 1967 the city and the airlines began work on a plan for development of Atlanta Municipal Airport.
• The furthest airport from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,317 miles (18,213 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
• Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport has a terminal and concourse space totaling 6,800,000-square-foot.

Facts about Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI):

• In addition to being known as "Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport", another name for HRI is "මත්තල රාජපක්ෂ ජාත්‍යන්තර ගුවන්තොටුපළமத்தல ராஜபக்ஷ பன்னாட்டு விமான நிலையம்".
• Domestic carriers Helitours and Cinnamon Air offer charter flights that connect the airport with Ratmalana Airport and Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo.
• Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) currently has only 1 runway.
• On 16 October 2012, a Hawker Beechcraft B200 King Air registered AP-CAB, belonging to the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan landed on runway 23 at 12.38 PM local time becoming the first aircraft to land at the new airport as requested by the Rajapaksa regime.
• This project will have two phases, with the first phase expected to be completed by the end of October 2012.
• The closest airport to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) is Weerawila Airport (WRZ), which is located only 8 miles (13 kilometers) ESE of HRI.
• Because of Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport's relatively low elevation of 157 feet, planes can take off or land at Mattala Rajapaksa International 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 furthest airport from Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) is Seymour Airport (GPS), which is located 11,719 miles (18,860 kilometers) away in Baltra Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.
• The second stage of the HIA project the construction will begin in 2013 and is to be completed by 2016.