Nonstop flight route between Arlington County, Virginia (near Washington, D.C.), United States and Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom:
Departure Airport:
(38°51'7"N by 77°2'16"W)
Arrival Airport:
(51°23'48"N by 3°20'35"W)
Distance from DCA to CWL:
3,537.32 miles (5,692.75 km)
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- About this route
- DCA Airport Information
- CWL Airport Information
- Facts about DCA
- Facts about CWL
- Map of Nearest Airports to DCA
- List of Nearest Airports to DCA
- Map of Furthest Airports from DCA
- List of Furthest Airports from DCA
- Map of Nearest Airports to CWL
- List of Nearest Airports to CWL
- Map of Furthest Airports from CWL
- List of Furthest Airports from CWL
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Arlington County, Virginia (near Washington, D.C.), United States and Cardiff Airport (CWL), Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,537 miles (or 5,693 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 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Cardiff 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 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Cardiff Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | DCA / KDCA |
| Airport Name: | Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport |
| Location: | Arlington County, Virginia (near Washington, D.C.), United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 38°51'7"N by 77°2'16"W |
| Area Served: | Washington Metropolitan Area |
| Operator/Owner: | Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 15 feet (5 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 3 |
| View all routes: | Routes from DCA |
| More Information: | DCA Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | CWL / EGFF |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom |
| GPS Coordinates: | 51°23'48"N by 3°20'35"W |
| Area Served: | Cardiff South Wales Mid Wales West Wales |
| Operator/Owner: | Welsh Government |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 220 feet (67 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from CWL |
| More Information: | CWL Maps & Info |
Facts about Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA):
- The airport opened June 16, 1941.
- Because of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport's relatively low elevation of 15 feet, planes can take off or land at Ronald Reagan Washington National 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.
- Terminal A opened in 1941 and was expanded in 1955 to accommodate more passengers and airlines.
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) has 3 runways.
- Service to the airport's Metro station began in 1977.
- The closest airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is Bolling Air Force Base (BOF), which is located only 1 miles (2 kilometers) ESE of DCA.
- The furthest airport from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,682 miles (18,800 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- Reagan National only has United States immigration and customs facilities for corporate jet traffic.
- On February 6, 1998 President Bill Clinton signed legislation changing the airport's name from Washington National Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, to honor the former president on his 87th birthday.
Facts about Cardiff Airport (CWL):
- On 2 March 2009 the airport management revealed a name change for the airport along with initial development plans to improve the image of the facility.
- On 1 April 1965 the Ministry of Aviation handed over the airport to Glamorgan County Council and it was renamed Glamorgan Airport.
- Cardiff Airport handled 1,072,062 passengers last year.
- In addition to being known as "Cardiff Airport", another name for CWL is "Maes Awyr Caerdydd".
- In the 1970s, the supersonic airliner Concorde made a few flights into the airport on special occasions.
- In April 1995, due to planned Local Government re-organisation in Wales, the Airport Company was privatised, with shares being sold to property and development firm, TBI plc, which has now been converted back to a private company called TBI Ltd and is concessionary to Orlando Sanford International Airport.
- On 15 May 2014 it was announced that Ryanair would return to the airport after an absence of 8 years by operating a service to Tenerife starting on 30 October the same year.
- Because of Cardiff Airport's relatively low elevation of 220 feet, planes can take off or land at Cardiff 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.
- Cardiff Airport (CWL) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Cardiff Airport (CWL) is Dunedin International Airport (DUD), which is located 11,958 miles (19,244 kilometers) away in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.
- The closest airport to Cardiff Airport (CWL) is MoD St Athan (DGX), which is located only 4 miles (6 kilometers) W of CWL.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 1.34 miles (2.15 km) ESE | Bolling Air Force Base (BOF) | Washington, D.C., United States |     |
| 2 | 9.63 miles (15.50 km) ESE | Andrews Field (ADW) | Camp Springs, Maryland, United States | |
| 3 | 10.83 miles (17.42 km) NE | College Park Airport (CGS) | College Park, Maryland, United States | |
| 4 | 12.23 miles (19.68 km) SW | Davison Army Airfield (DAA) | Fort Belvoir, Virginia, United States | |
| 5 | 21.97 miles (35.36 km) NE | Tipton Airport (FME) | Odenton, Maryland, United States | |
| 6 | 22.90 miles (36.85 km) NNW | Montgomery County Airpark (GAI) | Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States | |
| 7 | 23.37 miles (37.60 km) WNW | Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) | Washington, D.C. / Virginia, United States | |
| 8 | 26.01 miles (41.86 km) ENE | Lee Airport (ANP) | Annapolis, Maryland, United States | |
| 9 | 27.27 miles (43.89 km) WSW | Manassas Regional Airport (HEF) | Manassas, Virginia, United States | |
| 10 | 27.27 miles (43.89 km) WSW | Manassas Regional Airport (MNZ) | Manassas, Virginia, United States | |
| 11 | 29.86 miles (48.05 km) NE | Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) | between Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C., United States | |
| 12 | 31.98 miles (51.47 km) WNW | Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO) | Leesburg, Virginia, United States | |
| 13 | 43.02 miles (69.24 km) NNW | Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK) | Frederick, Maryland, United States | |
| 14 | 45.50 miles (73.23 km) SE | St. Mary's County Regional Airport (LTW) | Leonardtown, Maryland, United States | |
| 15 | 46.79 miles (75.30 km) NE | Martin State Airport (MTN) | Baltimore, Maryland, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,681.77 miles (18,799.93 km) WSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,658.39 miles (18,762.32 km) WSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,640.72 miles (18,733.87 km) WSW | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,633.68 miles (18,722.55 km) WSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,586.54 miles (18,646.68 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,574.33 miles (18,627.04 km) WSW | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,574.29 miles (18,626.97 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,563.78 miles (18,610.06 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,545.69 miles (18,580.94 km) WSW | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,531.56 miles (18,558.20 km) SW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,470.35 miles (18,459.69 km) SW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,436.80 miles (18,405.70 km) SW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,428.31 miles (18,392.03 km) SW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,421.14 miles (18,380.50 km) SW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,349.87 miles (18,265.79 km) SW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 4.03 miles (6.48 km) W | MoD St Athan (DGX) | St Athan, Wales, United Kingdom | |
| 2 | 26.93 miles (43.34 km) E | Bristol Airport (BRS) | Bristol, England, United Kingdom | |
| 3 | 33.37 miles (53.71 km) ENE | Bristol Filton Airport (FZO) | Filton, Bristol, United Kingdom | |
| 4 | 34.33 miles (55.25 km) WNW | Swansea Airport (SWS) | Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom | |
| 5 | 45.86 miles (73.80 km) S | Exeter International Airport (EXT) | Exeter, United Kingdom | |
| 6 | 58.61 miles (94.32 km) E | RAF Lyneham (LYE) | Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 7 | 69.61 miles (112.02 km) ENE | RAF Fairford (FFD) | Fairford, England, United Kingdom | |
| 8 | 75.04 miles (120.77 km) SSW | Plymouth City Airport (PLH) | Plymouth, United Kingdom | |
| 9 | 75.67 miles (121.78 km) WNW | Haverfordwest Aerodrome (HAW) | Haverfordwest, Wales, United Kingdom | |
| 10 | 77.83 miles (125.26 km) ESE | Bournemouth Airport (BOH) | Bournemouth, England, United Kingdom | |
| 11 | 79.41 miles (127.80 km) ENE | RAF Brize Norton (BZZ) | Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 12 | 91.42 miles (147.12 km) ESE | Southampton Airport (SOU) | Eastleigh (near Southampton), England, United Kingdom | |
| 13 | 91.98 miles (148.02 km) ENE | Oxford Airport (OXF) | Oxford, England, United Kingdom | |
| 14 | 97.66 miles (157.17 km) SW | Newquay Cornwall Airport (NQY) | Newquay, England, United Kingdom | |
| 15 | 97.84 miles (157.45 km) E | RAF Benson (BEX) | Benson, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,957.99 miles (19,244.47 km) SE | Dunedin International Airport (DUD) | Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,941.33 miles (19,217.67 km) SE | Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS) | Stewart Island, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,925.31 miles (19,191.89 km) SE | Invercargill Airport (IVC) | Invercargill, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,924.18 miles (19,190.06 km) SSE | Oamaru Airport (OAM) | Oamaru, North Otago, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,894.52 miles (19,142.33 km) SE | Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) | Alexandra, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,886.11 miles (19,128.80 km) SSE | Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (TIU) | Timaru, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,872.11 miles (19,106.26 km) SSE | Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) | Ashburton, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,865.67 miles (19,095.90 km) SE | Queenstown Airport (ZQN) | Queenstown, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,863.17 miles (19,091.87 km) SE | Wanaka Airport (WKA) | Wanaka, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,857.70 miles (19,083.07 km) SSE | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,837.23 miles (19,050.13 km) SSE | Glentanner Aerodrome (GTN) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,828.86 miles (19,036.66 km) SSE | Mount Cook Airport (MON) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,822.85 miles (19,026.99 km) SW | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,822.35 miles (19,026.18 km) SE | Milford Sound Airport (MFN) | Milford Sound, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,807.49 miles (19,002.27 km) SSE | Fox Glacier Aerodrome (FGL) | Fox Glacier, New Zealand | |