Nonstop flight route between Buka Island, Papua New Guinea and Wales, Alaska, United States:
Departure Airport:
(5°25'19"S by 154°40'21"E)
Arrival Airport:
(65°37'21"N by 168°5'41"W)
Distance from BUA to WAA:
5,254.51 miles (8,456.30 km)
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- About this route
- BUA Airport Information
- WAA Airport Information
- Facts about BUA
- Facts about WAA
- 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 WAA
- List of Nearest Airports to WAA
- Map of Furthest Airports from WAA
- List of Furthest Airports from WAA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Buka Island Airport (BUA), Buka Island, Papua New Guinea and Wales Airport (WAA), Wales, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,255 miles (or 8,456 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 Wales 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 Wales 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: | WAA / PAIW |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Wales, Alaska, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 65°37'21"N by 168°5'41"W |
| Area Served: | Wales, Alaska |
| Operator/Owner: | State of Alaska DOT&PF - Northern Region |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 22 feet (7 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from WAA |
| More Information: | WAA Maps & Info |
Facts about Buka Island Airport (BUA):
- 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.
- In January 1944, the Allies drove the Japanese out of Buka, and the airfield was used for operations against the Japanese over New Guinea.
- 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.
- 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.
- In 2004, the airport experienced some closures due to land disputes.
- The closest airport to Buka Island Airport (BUA) is Nissan Island Airport (IIS), which is located 71 miles (114 kilometers) NNW of BUA.
- Buka Island Airport (BUA) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about Wales Airport (WAA):
- The closest airport to Wales Airport (WAA) is Tin City LRRS Airport (TNC), which is located only 6 miles (10 kilometers) SE of WAA.
- The furthest airport from Wales Airport (WAA) is Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Airport (TNM), which is located 10,385 miles (16,713 kilometers) away in Villa Las Estrellas, Antarctica.
- Because of Wales Airport's relatively low elevation of 22 feet, planes can take off or land at Wales 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.
- Wales Airport (WAA) currently has only 1 runway.
- In addition to being known as "Wales Airport", another name for WAA is "IWK".
| 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 | 6.43 miles (10.35 km) SE | Tin City LRRS Airport (TNC) | Tin City, Alaska, United States | |
| 2 | 26.11 miles (42.02 km) WNW | Diomede Heliport (FAA: DM2) (DIO) | Diomede, Alaska, United States | |
| 3 | 30.94 miles (49.79 km) ESE | Lost River 1 Airport (LSR) | Lost River, Alaska, United States | |
| 4 | 43.71 miles (70.34 km) SE | Port Clarence Coast Guard Station (KPC) | Port Clarence, Alaska, United States | |
| 5 | 50.86 miles (81.86 km) ESE | Brevig Mission Airport (KTS) | Brevig Mission, Alaska, United States | |
| 6 | 56.93 miles (91.61 km) ESE | Teller Airport (TLA) | Teller, Alaska, United States | |
| 7 | 71.19 miles (114.57 km) NE | Shishmaref Airport (SHH) | Shishmaref, Alaska, United States | |
| 8 | 108.80 miles (175.10 km) SE | Nome Airport (OME) | Nome, Alaska, United States | |
| 9 | 136.47 miles (219.62 km) ESE | Council Airport (CIL) | Council, Alaska, United States | |
| 10 | 150.40 miles (242.04 km) ESE | White Mountain Airport (WMO) | White Mountain, Alaska, United States | |
| 11 | 151.38 miles (243.62 km) SSW | Savoonga Airport (SVA) | Savoonga, Alaska, United States | |
| 12 | 153.73 miles (247.41 km) ENE | Deering Airport (DRG) | Deering, Alaska, United States | |
| 13 | 165.51 miles (266.36 km) ESE | Golovin Airport (GLV) | Golovin, Alaska, United States | |
| 14 | 167.23 miles (269.13 km) SW | Gambell Airport (GAM) | Gambell, Alaska, United States | |
| 15 | 173.10 miles (278.57 km) WSW | Provideniya Bay Airport (PVS) | Provideniya, Chukotka, Russia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,385.16 miles (16,713.26 km) ESE | Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Airport (TNM) | Villa Las Estrellas, Antarctica | |
| 2 | 10,232.25 miles (16,467.17 km) S | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Cape Town, South Africa | |
| 3 | 10,209.66 miles (16,430.81 km) SSW | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 4 | 10,178.37 miles (16,380.46 km) SSW | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 5 | 10,135.46 miles (16,311.41 km) SSW | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 6 | 10,089.52 miles (16,237.46 km) SSW | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 7 | 9,978.66 miles (16,059.06 km) SSW | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 8 | 9,943.75 miles (16,002.87 km) S | Kleinsee Airport (KLZ) | Kleinzee, South Africa | |
| 9 | 9,912.65 miles (15,952.83 km) ESE | Port Stanley Airport (PSY) | Stanley, Falkland Islands, United Kingdom | |
| 10 | 9,911.38 miles (15,950.78 km) SSW | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 11 | 9,908.48 miles (15,946.11 km) S | Aggeneys Airport (AGZ) | Aggeneys, South Africa | |
| 12 | 9,908.48 miles (15,946.11 km) S | Wild Coast Sun Airport (MZF) | Mzamba, South Africa | |
| 13 | 9,901.22 miles (15,934.43 km) ESE | RAF Mount Pleasant (MPN) | Falkland Islands | |
| 14 | 9,876.73 miles (15,895.01 km) SSW | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 9,870.18 miles (15,884.48 km) SSW | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |