Nonstop flight route between Bellingham, Washington, United States and Santa Maria, Portugal:
Departure Airport:
(48°47'32"N by 122°32'14"W)
Arrival Airport:
(36°58'26"N by 25°10'15"W)
Distance from BLI to SMA:
4,653.83 miles (7,489.60 km)
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- About this route
- BLI Airport Information
- SMA Airport Information
- Facts about BLI
- Facts about SMA
- Map of Nearest Airports to BLI
- List of Nearest Airports to BLI
- Map of Furthest Airports from BLI
- List of Furthest Airports from BLI
- Map of Nearest Airports to SMA
- List of Nearest Airports to SMA
- Map of Furthest Airports from SMA
- List of Furthest Airports from SMA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Bellingham International Airport (BLI), Bellingham, Washington, United States and Santa Maria Airport (SMA), Santa Maria, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,654 miles (or 7,490 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 Bellingham International Airport and Santa Maria 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 Bellingham International Airport and Santa Maria Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | BLI / KBLI |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Bellingham, Washington, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 48°47'32"N by 122°32'14"W |
| Area Served: | Bellingham, Washington |
| Operator/Owner: | Port of Bellingham |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 170 feet (52 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from BLI |
| More Information: | BLI Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SMA / LPAZ |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Santa Maria, Portugal |
| GPS Coordinates: | 36°58'26"N by 25°10'15"W |
| Area Served: | Vila do Porto |
| Operator/Owner: | Government of Portugal |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 308 feet (94 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SMA |
| More Information: | SMA Maps & Info |
Facts about Bellingham International Airport (BLI):
- The airport is presently undergoing a significant expansion to the commercial passenger terminal building which will increase the size of the terminal building from 27,000 to 85,000 square feet.
- Bellingham International Airport (BLI) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of Bellingham International Airport's relatively low elevation of 170 feet, planes can take off or land at Bellingham 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 newly constructed gate area comprises five gates, a coffee shop and a restaurant with a bar.
- The furthest airport from Bellingham International Airport (BLI) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 10,700 miles (17,220 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- The closest airport to Bellingham International Airport (BLI) is Blaine Municipal Airport (BWS), which is located only 16 miles (26 kilometers) NNW of BLI.
- In the 1990s homes were purchased to extend the runway in an effort to attract air carriers.
- In addition to being known as "Bellingham International Airport", another name for BLI is "(Bellingham/Tulip Army Airfield)".
- In response to the increased low fare competition offered by Allegiant in their home state, Alaska Airlines expanded service from Bellingham International.
- The early 21st century saw rapid expansion at the Bellingham International Airport from multiple large air carriers motivated by the potential passenger loads from lower mainland British Columbia.
Facts about Santa Maria Airport (SMA):
- It was built in the context of the Second World War, by US troops in order to maintain supply lines to Europe, and inaugurated on 26 July 1945.
- The furthest airport from Santa Maria Airport (SMA) is Moruya Airport (MYA), which is nearly antipodal to Santa Maria Airport (meaning Santa Maria Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Moruya Airport), and is located 12,166 miles (19,579 kilometers) away in Moruya, New South Wales, Australia.
- In addition to being known as "Santa Maria Airport", another name for SMA is "Aeroporto de Santa Maria".
- Santa Maria Airport (SMA) currently has only 1 runway.
- Santa Maria Airport handled 93,436 passengers last year.
- Transportes Aéreos Portugueses began lay-over flights to this airport on 7 December 1962, eventually inaugurating trans-Atlantic service between Santa Maria-New York and Santa Maria-Montreal.
- Because of Santa Maria Airport's relatively low elevation of 308 feet, planes can take off or land at Santa Maria 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 Santa Maria Airport (SMA) is João Paulo II Airport (PDL), which is located 60 miles (97 kilometers) NNW of SMA.
- For a while, Air France's supersonic Concordes were routed to Santa Maria on refueling layovers between Paris and Caracas.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 16.27 miles (26.18 km) NNW | Blaine Municipal Airport (BWS) | Blaine, Washington, United States |     |
| 2 | 17.97 miles (28.92 km) WSW | Orcas Island Airport (ESD) | Eastsound, Washington, United States | |
| 3 | 17.99 miles (28.95 km) NNE | Abbotsford International Airport (YXX) | Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 4 | 18.17 miles (29.24 km) SW | Rosario Seaplane Base (RSJ) | Orcas Island, Washington, United States | |
| 5 | 21.07 miles (33.91 km) SSW | Anacortes Airport (OTS) | Anacortes, Washington, United States | |
| 6 | 22.60 miles (36.36 km) WSW | Westsound Seaplane Base (WSX) | Westsound, Orcas Island, Washington, United States | |
| 7 | 22.85 miles (36.78 km) SSE | Skagit Regional Airport (MVW) | Burlington / Mount Vernon, Washington, United States | |
| 8 | 24.84 miles (39.98 km) SSW | Center Island Airport (CWS) | Center Island, Washington, United States | |
| 9 | 25.80 miles (41.52 km) SW | Fishermans Bay/LPS Seaplane Base (LPS) | Lopez Island, Washington, United States | |
| 10 | 27.85 miles (44.82 km) SW | Friday Harbor Seaplane Base (FBS) | Friday Harbor, Washington, United States | |
| 11 | 28.88 miles (46.47 km) NW | Boundary Bay Airport (YDT) | Delta, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 12 | 29.04 miles (46.74 km) SW | Friday Harbor Airport (FRD) | Friday Harbor, Washington, United States | |
| 13 | 30.33 miles (48.81 km) NNW | Pitt Meadows Regional Airport (YPK) | Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 14 | 30.92 miles (49.76 km) S | NAS Whidbey Island (NUW) | Oak Harbor, Washington, United States | |
| 15 | 31.10 miles (50.06 km) WSW | Roche Harbor Seaplane Base (RCE) | San Juan Island, Washington, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,699.80 miles (17,219.61 km) SSE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 2 | 10,634.78 miles (17,114.98 km) SSE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 3 | 10,563.80 miles (17,000.75 km) ESE | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 4 | 10,555.95 miles (16,988.12 km) ESE | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 5 | 10,549.29 miles (16,977.39 km) ESE | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 6 | 10,535.42 miles (16,955.08 km) S | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 7 | 10,525.14 miles (16,938.53 km) ESE | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 8 | 10,519.49 miles (16,929.43 km) SE | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 9 | 10,515.56 miles (16,923.11 km) ESE | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 10 | 10,508.33 miles (16,911.47 km) SE | Richards Bay Airport (RCB) | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 11 | 10,505.92 miles (16,907.60 km) S | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 12 | 10,494.14 miles (16,888.64 km) ESE | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 13 | 10,477.10 miles (16,861.22 km) S | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 14 | 10,474.33 miles (16,856.75 km) SE | Hluhluwe Airport (HLW) | Hluhluwe, South Africa | |
| 15 | 10,465.35 miles (16,842.31 km) SSE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 60.44 miles (97.26 km) NNW | João Paulo II Airport (PDL) | Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal | |
| 2 | 161.94 miles (260.61 km) NW | Lajes Air Base (TER) | Lajes, Azores, Portugal | |
| 3 | 209.34 miles (336.90 km) WNW | Pico Airport (PIX) | Pico Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 4 | 213.54 miles (343.67 km) NW | Graciosa Airport (GRW) | Graciosa Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 5 | 221.17 miles (355.94 km) WNW | Horta International Airport (HOR) | Horta, Azores, Portugal | |
| 6 | 366.19 miles (589.32 km) WNW | Flores Airport (FLW) | Flores Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 7 | 371.97 miles (598.63 km) WNW | Corvo Airport (CVU) | Corvo Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 8 | 560.01 miles (901.25 km) ESE | Madeira Airport (FNC) | Funchal, Madeira, Portugal | |
| 9 | 566.98 miles (912.46 km) ESE | Porto Santo Airport (PXO) | Porto Santo, Madeira, Portugal | |
| 10 | 719.25 miles (1,157.51 km) SE | La Palma Airport (SPC) | La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 11 | 771.87 miles (1,242.20 km) SE | La Gomera Airport (GMZ) | Alajeró / San Sebastián, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 12 | 778.68 miles (1,253.16 km) SE | Tenerife North Airport (TFN) | Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 13 | 793.97 miles (1,277.77 km) SE | Tenerife-South Airport (TFS) | Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 14 | 844.99 miles (1,359.87 km) SE | Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) | Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 15 | 869.00 miles (1,398.51 km) SE | Lanzarote Airport (ACE) | Arrecife, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,166.03 miles (19,579.28 km) ESE | Moruya Airport (MYA) | Moruya, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 2 | 12,164.68 miles (19,577.11 km) E | Merimbula Airport (MIM) | Merimbula, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 3 | 12,155.61 miles (19,562.50 km) SE | Illawarra Regional Airport (WOL) | Shellharbour, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 4 | 12,143.59 miles (19,543.17 km) SE | Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD) | Mascot (near Sydney), Australia | |
| 5 | 12,135.02 miles (19,529.37 km) SE | Bankstown Airport (BWU) | Bankstown (near Sydney), New South Wales, Australia | |
| 6 | 12,128.04 miles (19,518.13 km) SE | Camden Aerodrome (CDU) | Camden, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 7 | 12,113.81 miles (19,495.24 km) ESE | Goulburn Airport (GUL) | Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 8 | 12,112.40 miles (19,492.97 km) SE | Belmont Airport (BEO) | Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 9 | 12,102.07 miles (19,476.35 km) ESE | Canberra Airport (CBR) | Canberra, Australia | |
| 10 | 12,101.93 miles (19,476.12 km) SSE | Newcastle Airport (NTL) | Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 11 | 12,086.58 miles (19,451.41 km) SE | Cessnock Airport (CES) | Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 12 | 12,086.22 miles (19,450.83 km) SSE | Maitland Airport (MTL) | Maitland, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 13 | 12,054.69 miles (19,400.10 km) SE | Bathurst Airport (BHS) | Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 14 | 12,047.90 miles (19,389.17 km) E | Corryong Airport (CYG) | Corryong, Victoria, Australia | |
| 15 | 12,038.04 miles (19,373.30 km) SSE | Port Macquarie Airport (PQQ) | Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia | |