Nonstop flight route between Buka Island, Papua New Guinea and Shirahama, Japan:
Departure Airport:
(5°25'19"S by 154°40'21"E)
Arrival Airport:
(33°39'43"N by 135°21'51"E)
Distance from BUA to SHM:
2,981.10 miles (4,797.61 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- BUA Airport Information
- SHM Airport Information
- Facts about BUA
- Facts about SHM
- Map of Nearest Airports to BUA
- List of Nearest Airports to BUA
- Map of Furthest Airports from BUA
- List of Furthest Airports from BUA
- Map of Nearest Airports to SHM
- List of Nearest Airports to SHM
- Map of Furthest Airports from SHM
- List of Furthest Airports from SHM
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Buka Island Airport (BUA), Buka Island, Papua New Guinea and Nanki-Shirahama Airport (SHM), Shirahama, Japan would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,981 miles (or 4,798 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 Buka Island Airport and Nanki-Shirahama 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 Buka Island Airport and Nanki-Shirahama Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure 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 |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SHM / RJBD |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Shirahama, Japan |
| GPS Coordinates: | 33°39'43"N by 135°21'51"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Wakayama Prefecture |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 293 feet (89 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SHM |
| More Information: | SHM Maps & Info |
Facts about Buka Island Airport (BUA):
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- On 26 July, an Imperial Japanese Navy special detachment was sent to inspect Buka Airfield, but considered it unacceptable as a prospect for a speedily constructed major airfield.
- Buka Island Airport (BUA) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about Nanki-Shirahama Airport (SHM):
- The closest airport to Nanki-Shirahama Airport (SHM) is Kansai International Airport (KIX), which is located 54 miles (87 kilometers) N of SHM.
- Because of Nanki-Shirahama Airport's relatively low elevation of 293 feet, planes can take off or land at Nanki-Shirahama 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 Nanki-Shirahama Airport (SHM) is Diomício Freitas/Forquilhinha Airport (CCM), which is located 11,994 miles (19,302 kilometers) away in Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
- Nanki-Shirahama Airport (SHM) currently has only 1 runway.
- In addition to being known as "Nanki-Shirahama Airport", other names for SHM include "南紀白浜空港" and "Nanki Shirahama Kūkō".
| 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 | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 53.87 miles (86.69 km) N | Kansai International Airport (KIX) | Osaka, Japan | |
| 2 | 67.54 miles (108.69 km) N | Kobe Airport (UKB) | Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan | |
| 3 | 77.66 miles (124.97 km) N | Osaka International Airport (ITM) | Itami (near Osaka), Japan | |
| 4 | 77.66 miles (124.97 km) N | Osaka International Airport (OSA) | Osaka, Japan | |
| 5 | 86.21 miles (138.75 km) WNW | Takamatsu Airport (TAK) | Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan | |
| 6 | 97.87 miles (157.51 km) W | Kōchi Airport (KCZ) | Kōchi, Japan | |
| 7 | 114.70 miles (184.59 km) NW | Okayama Airport (OKJ) | Okayama, Japan | |
| 8 | 116.61 miles (187.67 km) NE | Chūbu Centrair International Airport (NGO) | Nagoya, Japan | |
| 9 | 141.45 miles (227.64 km) NE | Nagoya Airfield (NKM) | Nagoya, Japan | |
| 10 | 149.83 miles (241.13 km) WNW | Hiroshima Airport (HIJ) | Hiroshima, Honshū, Japan | |
| 11 | 153.51 miles (247.06 km) W | Matsuyama Airport (MYJ) | Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan | |
| 12 | 174.99 miles (281.61 km) NW | Miho-Yonago Airport (YGJ) | Yonago, Tottori, Japan | |
| 13 | 178.17 miles (286.74 km) NNE | Fukui Airport (FKJ) | Fukui, Honshu, Japan | |
| 14 | 179.38 miles (288.69 km) ENE | Shizuoka Airport (FSZ) | Shizuoka, Honshu, Japan | |
| 15 | 185.67 miles (298.80 km) NW | Izumo Airport (IZO) | Izumo, Shimane, Japan | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,993.75 miles (19,302.03 km) SE | Diomício Freitas/Forquilhinha Airport (CCM) | Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |
| 2 | 11,986.64 miles (19,290.57 km) ESE | Rio Grande Regional Airport (RIG) | Rio Grande, Brazil | |
| 3 | 11,977.14 miles (19,275.29 km) ESE | Salgado Filho International Airport (POA) | Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 4 | 11,969.68 miles (19,263.28 km) ESE | Pelotas International Airport (PET) | Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 5 | 11,961.95 miles (19,250.84 km) SSE | Florianópolis-Hercílio Luz International Airport (FLN) | Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |
| 6 | 11,910.54 miles (19,168.11 km) SSE | Navegantes Airport (NVT) | Navegantes, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |
| 7 | 11,910.21 miles (19,167.58 km) SE | Antônio Correia Pinto de Macedo Airport (LAJ) | Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |
| 8 | 11,876.07 miles (19,112.63 km) E | Treinta y Tres Airport (TYT) | Treinta y Tres, Treinta y Tres, Uruguay | |
| 9 | 11,874.11 miles (19,109.49 km) E | Cerro Largo International Airport (MLZ) | Melo, Cerro Largo, Uruguay | |
| 10 | 11,865.75 miles (19,096.02 km) SSE | Joinville-Lauro Carneiro de Loyola Airport (JOI) | Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |
| 11 | 11,863.25 miles (19,092.00 km) ESE | Comandante Gustavo Kraemer International Airport (BGX) | Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 12 | 11,847.34 miles (19,066.39 km) SE | Lauro Kurtz Airport (PFB) | Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 13 | 11,843.36 miles (19,059.99 km) E | Cerro Largo International Airport (VCH) | Vichadero, Rivera, Uruguay | |
| 14 | 11,838.75 miles (19,052.57 km) ESE | Santa Maria Airport (RIA) | Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 15 | 11,834.49 miles (19,045.71 km) SE | Ângelo Ponzoni Municipal Airport (VIA) | Videira, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |