Nonstop flight route between Buka Island, Papua New Guinea and Willow, Alaska, United States:
Departure Airport:
(5°25'19"S by 154°40'21"E)
Arrival Airport:
(61°45'15"N by 150°3'6"W)
Distance from BUA to WOW:
5,481.26 miles (8,821.21 km)
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- About this route
- BUA Airport Information
- WOW Airport Information
- Facts about BUA
- Facts about WOW
- 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 WOW
- List of Nearest Airports to WOW
- Map of Furthest Airports from WOW
- List of Furthest Airports from WOW
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Buka Island Airport (BUA), Buka Island, Papua New Guinea and Willow Airport (WOW), Willow, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,481 miles (or 8,821 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 Willow 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 Willow 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: | WOW / PAUO |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Willow, Alaska, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 61°45'15"N by 150°3'6"W |
| Area Served: | Willow, Alaska |
| Operator/Owner: | Alaska DOT&PF - Central Region |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 221 feet (67 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from WOW |
| More Information: | WOW 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.
- 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.
- There is one navigational aid, the Buka NDB situated on nearby Sohano Island.
- Buka Island Airport (BUA) currently has only 1 runway.
- 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 origins of the airfield begin in 1941 when Australian troops built gun pits around a primitive airstrip in December 1941.
- The closest airport to Buka Island Airport (BUA) is Nissan Island Airport (IIS), which is located 71 miles (114 kilometers) NNW of BUA.
Facts about Willow Airport (WOW):
- Willow Airport covers an area of 610 acres at an elevation of 221 feet above mean sea level.
- Because of Willow Airport's relatively low elevation of 221 feet, planes can take off or land at Willow 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.
- Willow Airport (WOW) currently has only 1 runway.
- In addition to being known as "Willow Airport", another name for WOW is "UUO".
- The furthest airport from Willow Airport (WOW) is Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), which is located 10,509 miles (16,912 kilometers) away in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
- The closest airport to Willow Airport (WOW) is Big Lake Airport (BGQ), which is located only 17 miles (27 kilometers) SSE of WOW.
| 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 | 16.97 miles (27.31 km) SSE | Big Lake Airport (BGQ) | Big Lake, Alaska, United States | |
| 2 | 20.99 miles (33.79 km) SE | Wasilla Airport (WWA) | Wasilla, Alaska, United States | |
| 3 | 33.43 miles (53.80 km) ESE | Palmer Municipal Airport (PAQ) | Palmer, Alaska, United States | |
| 4 | 35.67 miles (57.40 km) SSE | Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF) | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | |
| 5 | 36.40 miles (58.59 km) SSE | Bryant Army Airfield (FRN) | Fort Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska, United States | |
| 6 | 37.97 miles (61.11 km) S | Merrill Field (MRI) | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | |
| 7 | 39.16 miles (63.02 km) N | Talkeetna Airport (TKA) | Talkeetna, Alaska, United States | |
| 8 | 39.90 miles (64.21 km) WNW | Skwentna Airport (SKW) | Skwentna, Alaska, United States | |
| 9 | 40.11 miles (64.56 km) S | Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | |
| 10 | 51.84 miles (83.43 km) SW | Beluga Airport (BVU) | Beluga, Alaska, United States | |
| 11 | 59.00 miles (94.95 km) SW | Tyonek Airport (TYE) | Tyonek, Alaska, United States | |
| 12 | 90.76 miles (146.06 km) SSW | Kenai Municipal Airport (ENA) | Kenai, Alaska, United States | |
| 13 | 94.32 miles (151.79 km) SSW | Soldotna Airport (SXQ) | Soldotna, Alaska, United States | |
| 14 | 112.88 miles (181.67 km) NNE | Summit Airport (UMM) | Summit, Alaska, United States | |
| 15 | 114.42 miles (184.14 km) S | Seward Airport (SWD) | Seward, Alaska, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,508.58 miles (16,911.88 km) S | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 2 | 10,490.78 miles (16,883.23 km) SSE | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 3 | 10,483.63 miles (16,871.73 km) S | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 4 | 10,452.85 miles (16,822.18 km) SSE | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Cape Town, South Africa | |
| 5 | 10,450.24 miles (16,818.00 km) S | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 6 | 10,348.86 miles (16,654.83 km) S | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 7 | 10,302.10 miles (16,579.59 km) S | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 8 | 10,234.47 miles (16,470.74 km) S | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 9 | 10,229.96 miles (16,463.48 km) S | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 10,225.62 miles (16,456.49 km) S | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 11 | 10,224.72 miles (16,455.06 km) S | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 12 | 10,218.29 miles (16,444.70 km) S | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 13 | 10,215.69 miles (16,440.51 km) S | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 14 | 10,202.97 miles (16,420.05 km) S | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 10,192.81 miles (16,403.70 km) S | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |