Nonstop flight route between Atlanta, Georgia, United States and Port Elizabeth, South Africa:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Atlanta, Georgia, United States and Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), Port Elizabeth, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,506 miles (or 13,689 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 Port Elizabeth 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 Port Elizabeth 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):

• 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.
• Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has 5 runways.
• Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport has a terminal and concourse space totaling 6,800,000-square-foot.
• 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.
• 1956 Jeppesen diagram
• In May 2001 construction of a 9,000-foot fifth runway began.
• On June 1, 1956 an Eastern flight to Montreal, Canada was the first international flight out of Atlanta.
• Although Eastern was a larger airline than Delta until airline deregulation in 1978, Delta was an early adopter of the hub and spoke route system, with Atlanta as its primary hub between the Midwest and Florida, giving it an advantage in the Atlanta market.
• In addition to the terminal that will expand international operations at the airport, sections of some midfield taxiways have been widened from 145 feet to 162 feet, and a section of Runway 27R will be widened from 220 feet to 250 feet in order to accommodate Airbus A380 operations at the airport.
• Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport handled 95,462,867 passengers last year.
• 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.

Facts about Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ):

• Air Force Station Port Elizabeth is home to C Flight of 15 Squadron of the South African Air Force.
• The closest airport to Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) is Port Alfred Airport (AFD), which is located 79 miles (127 kilometers) ENE of PLZ.
• The furthest airport from Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) is Princeville Airport (HPV), which is located 11,567 miles (18,615 kilometers) away in Hanalei, Hawaii, United States.
• 1 February 2008 - King Abdullah II of Jordan's Airbus A340-200 landed at Port Elizabeth as he makes his way down the Garden Route to Cape Town on a Harley-Davidson motorbike.
• Port Elizabeth Airport was established in 1929 in close proximity to the city.
• June, 2010 - South African Airways operated an Airbus A340-200 to Port Elizabeth to help manage the extra volume of people during the FIFA World Cup 2010.
• Because of Port Elizabeth International Airport's relatively low elevation of 226 feet, planes can take off or land at Port Elizabeth 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 airport is located approximately two miles south of the city's central business district.
• Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) has 2 runways.
• 17 May 2004 - John Travolta landed his personal Qantas Boeing 707 at the airport directly from Mauritius as he was visiting a nearby private game reserve.
• A number of hotels are present on or near the airport.