Nonstop flight route between Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, United States and Pietermaritzburg, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(31°50'57"N by 106°22'47"W)
Arrival Airport:
(29°38'48"S by 30°23'53"E)
Distance from BIF to PZB:
9,882.64 miles (15,904.52 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- BIF Airport Information
- PZB Airport Information
- Facts about BIF
- Facts about PZB
- Map of Nearest Airports to BIF
- List of Nearest Airports to BIF
- Map of Furthest Airports from BIF
- List of Furthest Airports from BIF
- Map of Nearest Airports to PZB
- List of Nearest Airports to PZB
- Map of Furthest Airports from PZB
- List of Furthest Airports from PZB
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Biggs Army Airfield (BIF), Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, United States and Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB), Pietermaritzburg, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,883 miles (or 15,905 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 Biggs Army Airfield and Pietermaritzburg 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 Biggs Army Airfield and Pietermaritzburg Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | BIF / KBIF |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 31°50'57"N by 106°22'47"W |
| Operator/Owner: | U.S. Army ATCA-ASO |
| Airport Type: | Military |
| Elevation: | 3946 feet (1,203 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from BIF |
| More Information: | BIF Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | PZB / FAPM |
| Airport Name: | Pietermaritzburg Airport |
| Location: | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 29°38'48"S by 30°23'53"E |
| Area Served: | Pietermaritzburg |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 2423 feet (739 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PZB |
| More Information: | PZB Maps & Info |
Facts about Biggs Army Airfield (BIF):
- The closest airport to Biggs Army Airfield (BIF) is El Paso International Airport (ELP), which is located only 3 miles (5 kilometers) S of BIF.
- In addition to being known as "Biggs Army Airfield", another name for BIF is "Biggs Air Force BaseBiggs Field".
- With World War II imminent, a massive construction effort was begun at Biggs Army Airfield between 1942–1945.
- In August 1953, the first B-36D arrived at Biggs, although the majority of aircraft received were the later-model B-36J-III models with a higher operational ceiling, strengthened landing gear, increased fuel capacity, armament reduced to tail guns only and reduced crew.
- The furthest airport from Biggs Army Airfield (BIF) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 11,387 miles (18,325 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
- The 97th Air Refueling Squadron, activated in March 1949, saw its manning increase as it received its first KB-29P in January 1950.
- In April 1943, the airfield came under the command of the Second Air Force and became headquarters for the XX Bomber Command.
- Biggs Army Airfield (BIF) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB):
- The furthest airport from Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) is Hana Airport (HNM), which is located 11,706 miles (18,839 kilometers) away in Hana, Hawaii, United States.
- The closest airport to Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) is King Shaka International (DUR), which is located 43 miles (69 kilometers) E of PZB.
- Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) currently has only 1 runway.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 2.92 miles (4.70 km) S | El Paso International Airport (ELP) | El Paso, Texas, United States |     |
| 2 | 14.99 miles (24.13 km) S | Abraham González International Airport (CJS) | Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico | |
| 3 | 14.99 miles (24.13 km) S | Nuevo Casas Grandes Municipal Airport (NCG) | Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico | |
| 4 | 43.94 miles (70.72 km) NW | Las Cruces International Airport (LRU) | Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States | |
| 5 | 71.12 miles (114.46 km) NNE | Holloman Air Force Base Alamogordo Army Airfield (HMN) | Alamogordo, New Mexico, United States | |
| 6 | 72.12 miles (116.06 km) NNE | Alamogordo–White Sands Regional Airport (ALM) | Alamogordo, New Mexico, United States | |
| 7 | 73.52 miles (118.32 km) W | Columbus Municipal Airport (CUS) | Columbus, New Mexico, United States | |
| 8 | 83.52 miles (134.41 km) WNW | Deming Municipal AirportDeming Army Airfield (DMN) | Deming, New Mexico, United States | |
| 9 | 108.82 miles (175.13 km) ESE | Culberson County Airport (VHN) | Van Horn, Texas, United States | |
| 10 | 109.03 miles (175.47 km) NNW | Truth or Consequences Municipal Airport (TCS) | Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, United States | |
| 11 | 117.19 miles (188.60 km) WNW | Grant County Airport (SVC) | Silver City, New Mexico, United States | |
| 12 | 128.40 miles (206.64 km) ENE | Cavern City Air Terminal (CNM) | Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States | |
| 13 | 131.38 miles (211.43 km) ENE | Artesia Municipal Airport (ATS) | Artesia, New Mexico, United States | |
| 14 | 147.17 miles (236.85 km) NE | Roswell International Air Center (ROW) | Roswell, New Mexico, United States | |
| 15 | 171.87 miles (276.59 km) E | Pecos Municipal Airport (PEQ) | Pecos, Texas, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,386.81 miles (18,325.24 km) SE | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 2 | 11,174.71 miles (17,983.90 km) SE | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 3 | 11,100.93 miles (17,865.18 km) ESE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 4 | 11,087.51 miles (17,843.58 km) ESE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 5 | 10,754.87 miles (17,308.24 km) E | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 10,716.40 miles (17,246.34 km) ESE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 7 | 10,655.16 miles (17,147.78 km) ESE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 10,653.79 miles (17,145.57 km) ESE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 10,632.78 miles (17,111.76 km) ESE | Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) | Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 10,617.12 miles (17,086.55 km) E | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 10,579.17 miles (17,025.49 km) ESE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 10,563.85 miles (17,000.83 km) ESE | Antsirabato Airport (ANM) | Antalaha, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 10,526.48 miles (16,940.68 km) ESE | Mandritsara Airport (WMA) | Mandritsara, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,503.77 miles (16,904.14 km) ESE | Tsaratanana Airport (TTS) | Tsaratanana, Madagascar. | |
| 15 | 10,500.21 miles (16,898.41 km) ESE | Tsiroanomandidy Airport (WTS) | Tsiroanomandidy, Madagascar | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 42.69 miles (68.70 km) E | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 2 | 83.35 miles (134.14 km) NNW | Ladysmith Airport (LAY) | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 3 | 83.63 miles (134.59 km) WNW | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 4 | 83.86 miles (134.96 km) S | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 5 | 105.88 miles (170.39 km) W | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 6 | 119.80 miles (192.80 km) ENE | Richards Bay Airport (RCB) | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 7 | 122.75 miles (197.54 km) W | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 8 | 140.90 miles (226.76 km) W | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 9 | 151.59 miles (243.96 km) WNW | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 160.36 miles (258.08 km) NE | Hluhluwe Airport (HLW) | Hluhluwe, South Africa | |
| 11 | 166.52 miles (267.98 km) SW | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 12 | 171.51 miles (276.02 km) W | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 13 | 189.60 miles (305.13 km) W | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 14 | 222.43 miles (357.96 km) NNE | Matsapha Airport (MTS) | Manzini, Swaziland | |
| 15 | 248.95 miles (400.65 km) NNW | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,705.97 miles (18,838.89 km) NE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,697.37 miles (18,825.04 km) NE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,694.77 miles (18,820.85 km) NE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,692.21 miles (18,816.75 km) NE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,686.79 miles (18,808.03 km) NE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,679.67 miles (18,796.55 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,671.84 miles (18,783.96 km) NE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,670.76 miles (18,782.22 km) NNE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,669.82 miles (18,780.71 km) NNE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,666.25 miles (18,774.96 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,664.41 miles (18,772.00 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,662.49 miles (18,768.91 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,662.49 miles (18,768.91 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,658.50 miles (18,762.49 km) NNE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,655.71 miles (18,757.99 km) NE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |