Nonstop flight route between Columbia, Missouri, United States and Wales, Alaska, United States:
Departure Airport:
(38°49'5"N by 92°13'10"W)
Arrival Airport:
(65°37'21"N by 168°5'41"W)
Distance from COU to WAA:
3,420.15 miles (5,504.19 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- COU Airport Information
- WAA Airport Information
- Facts about COU
- Facts about WAA
- Map of Nearest Airports to COU
- List of Nearest Airports to COU
- Map of Furthest Airports from COU
- List of Furthest Airports from COU
- 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 Columbia Regional Airport (COU), Columbia, Missouri, United States and Wales Airport (WAA), Wales, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,420 miles (or 5,504 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 Regional 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 Columbia Regional 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: | COU / KCOU |
| Airport Name: | Columbia Regional Airport |
| Location: | Columbia, Missouri, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 38°49'5"N by 92°13'10"W |
| Area Served: | Columbia, Missouri |
| Operator/Owner: | City of Columbia |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 889 feet (271 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from COU |
| More Information: | COU 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 Columbia Regional Airport (COU):
- In 2008, Northwest Airlink replaced US Airways Express using Saab 340 aircraft with service to Memphis.
- Because of Columbia Regional Airport's relatively low elevation of 889 feet, planes can take off or land at Columbia Regional 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 Regional Airport (COU) has 2 runways.
- The 2013 Federal sequester will result in the closure of the airport's contract control tower and will require pilots to rely on air traffic controllers from other area airports.
- The closest airport to Columbia Regional Airport (COU) is Jefferson City Memorial Airport (JEF), which is located only 16 miles (26 kilometers) SSE of COU.
- The furthest airport from Columbia Regional Airport (COU) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 10,886 miles (17,519 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- Prior to 2001 service was operated by Trans World Express using Jetstream 41 aircraft to St.
Facts about Wales Airport (WAA):
- Wales Airport (WAA) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Wales Airport (WAA) is Tin City LRRS Airport (TNC), which is located only 6 miles (10 kilometers) SE of WAA.
- In addition to being known as "Wales Airport", another name for WAA is "IWK".
- 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.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 16.05 miles (25.83 km) SSE | Jefferson City Memorial Airport (JEF) | Jefferson City, Missouri, United States |     |
| 2 | 52.07 miles (83.80 km) W | Sedalia Regional Airport (DMO) | Sedalia, Missouri, United States | |
| 3 | 52.98 miles (85.27 km) SSW | Lee C. Fine Memorial Airport (AIZ) | Lake Ozark, Missouri, United States | |
| 4 | 53.57 miles (86.21 km) SSE | Rolla National Airport (VIH) | Rolla, Missouri, United States | |
| 5 | 56.19 miles (90.43 km) WNW | Marshall Memorial Municipal Airport (MHL) | Marshall, Missouri, United States | |
| 6 | 71.81 miles (115.57 km) W | Whiteman Air Force Base (SZL) | Knob Noster, Missouri, United States | |
| 7 | 74.49 miles (119.89 km) S | Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport (TBN) | Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, United States | |
| 8 | 85.17 miles (137.07 km) E | Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS) | Chesterfield, Missouri, United States | |
| 9 | 89.80 miles (144.53 km) N | Kirksville Regional Airport (IRK) | Kirksville, Missouri, United States | |
| 10 | 95.05 miles (152.97 km) NE | Quincy Regional Airport (UIN) | Quincy, Illinois, United States | |
| 11 | 100.21 miles (161.27 km) E | Lambert–St. Louis International Airport (STL) | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | |
| 12 | 112.58 miles (181.19 km) E | St. Louis Downtown Airport (CPS) | Cahokia, Illinois (near St. Louis), United States | |
| 13 | 113.99 miles (183.45 km) NW | Trenton Municipal Airport (TRX) | Trenton, Missouri, United States | |
| 14 | 117.06 miles (188.38 km) E | St. Louis Regional Airport (ALN) | Alton, Illinois, United States | |
| 15 | 121.00 miles (194.73 km) NNE | Keokuk Municipal Airport (EOK) | Keokuk, Iowa, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,886.09 miles (17,519.42 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 10,864.03 miles (17,483.92 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 10,841.42 miles (17,447.53 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 10,838.13 miles (17,442.24 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,811.54 miles (17,399.45 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,795.94 miles (17,374.34 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,786.87 miles (17,359.73 km) W | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,784.83 miles (17,356.46 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,763.47 miles (17,322.08 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,751.22 miles (17,302.36 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,743.19 miles (17,289.45 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,733.23 miles (17,273.41 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,697.68 miles (17,216.20 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,697.12 miles (17,215.31 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,695.54 miles (17,212.76 km) WSW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 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 | |