Nonstop flight route between West Columbia (near Columbia), South Carolina, United States and Buka Island, Papua New Guinea:
Departure Airport:
(33°56'20"N by 81°7'9"W)
Arrival Airport:
(5°25'19"S by 154°40'21"E)
Distance from CAE to BUA:
8,369.77 miles (13,469.81 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- CAE Airport Information
- BUA Airport Information
- Facts about CAE
- Facts about BUA
- Map of Nearest Airports to CAE
- List of Nearest Airports to CAE
- Map of Furthest Airports from CAE
- List of Furthest Airports from CAE
- Map of Nearest Airports to BUA
- List of Nearest Airports to BUA
- Map of Furthest Airports from BUA
- List of Furthest Airports from BUA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE), West Columbia (near Columbia), South Carolina, United States and Buka Island Airport (BUA), Buka Island, Papua New Guinea would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,370 miles (or 13,470 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 Columbia Metropolitan Airport and Buka Island 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 Columbia Metropolitan Airport and Buka Island Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | CAE / KCAE |
| Airport Name: | Columbia Metropolitan Airport |
| Location: | West Columbia (near Columbia), South Carolina, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 33°56'20"N by 81°7'9"W |
| Area Served: | Columbia, South Carolina |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 236 feet (72 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from CAE |
| More Information: | CAE Maps & Info |
Arrival 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 |
Facts about Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE):
- Because of Columbia Metropolitan Airport's relatively low elevation of 236 feet, planes can take off or land at Columbia Metropolitan 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.
- Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) has 2 runways.
- The furthest airport from Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,508 miles (18,520 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- The closest airport to Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) is Jim Hamilton - L.B. Owens Airport (CUB), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) ENE of CAE.
- Eastern Airlines provided service to Charlotte, Washington, and New York.
- Columbia Metropolitan Airport handled 1,027,699 passengers last year.
- Columbia Metropolitan Airport is the main commercial airport for Columbia and the Midlands region of South Carolina.
- The terminal opened May 30, 1965 and was renovated in 1997.
Facts about Buka Island Airport (BUA):
- Buka Island Airport (BUA) currently has only 1 runway.
- It is located at the southern end of the island, near Buka Passage behind the town of Buka, and pre-war Chinatown.
- 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.
- On 13 May 1943 Allied reconnaissance observed 36 fighters and 6 bombers at the airstrip.
- 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 closest airport to Buka Island Airport (BUA) is Nissan Island Airport (IIS), which is located 71 miles (114 kilometers) NNW of BUA.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 7.44 miles (11.98 km) ENE | Jim Hamilton - L.B. Owens Airport (CUB) | Columbia, South Carolina, United States |     |
| 2 | 18.29 miles (29.44 km) E | McEntire Joint National Guard Base Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield CongareeCongaree Army Airfield (MMT) | Eastover, South Carolina, United States | |
| 3 | 36.50 miles (58.74 km) SSE | Orangeburg Municipal Airport (OGB) | Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States | |
| 4 | 37.14 miles (59.76 km) E | Shaw Air Force Base (SSC) | Sumter, South Carolina, United States | |
| 5 | 38.14 miles (61.38 km) WSW | Aiken Municipal Airport (AIK) | Aiken, South Carolina, United States | |
| 6 | 39.66 miles (63.83 km) NE | Woodward Field (CDN) | Camden, South Carolina, United States | |
| 7 | 43.61 miles (70.19 km) E | Sumter Airport (SUM) | Sumter, South Carolina, United States | |
| 8 | 49.52 miles (79.69 km) SSW | Barnwell Regional Airport (BNL) | Barnwell, South Carolina, United States | |
| 9 | 62.15 miles (100.02 km) WSW | Daniel Field (DNL) | Augusta, Georgia, United States | |
| 10 | 62.50 miles (100.59 km) SW | Augusta Regional Airport at Bush Field (AGS) | Augusta, Georgia, United States | |
| 11 | 63.22 miles (101.75 km) WNW | Greenwood County Airport (GRD) | Greenwood, South Carolina, United States | |
| 12 | 65.56 miles (105.51 km) ENE | Hartsville Regional Airport (HVS) | Hartsville, South Carolina, United States | |
| 13 | 75.55 miles (121.58 km) SSE | Lowcountry Regional Airport (RBW) | Walterboro, South Carolina, United States | |
| 14 | 81.67 miles (131.44 km) ENE | Florence Regional Airport (FLO) | Florence, South Carolina, United States | |
| 15 | 82.65 miles (133.01 km) NW | Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport (SPA) | Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,507.99 miles (18,520.27 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,489.32 miles (18,490.22 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,471.13 miles (18,460.96 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,463.08 miles (18,448.00 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,458.75 miles (18,441.03 km) W | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,450.26 miles (18,427.36 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,444.86 miles (18,418.67 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,439.14 miles (18,409.46 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,437.64 miles (18,407.05 km) W | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,428.77 miles (18,392.77 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,397.57 miles (18,342.56 km) WSW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,385.19 miles (18,322.65 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,377.54 miles (18,310.33 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,360.48 miles (18,282.87 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,357.61 miles (18,278.25 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 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 | |