Nonstop flight route between Detroit, Michigan, United States and Johannesburg, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(42°24'33"N by 83°0'36"W)
Arrival Airport:
(26°14'32"S by 28°9'3"E)
Distance from DET to QRA:
8,463.82 miles (13,621.16 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- DET Airport Information
- QRA Airport Information
- Facts about DET
- Facts about QRA
- Map of Nearest Airports to DET
- List of Nearest Airports to DET
- Map of Furthest Airports from DET
- List of Furthest Airports from DET
- Map of Nearest Airports to QRA
- List of Nearest Airports to QRA
- Map of Furthest Airports from QRA
- List of Furthest Airports from QRA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Coleman A. Young International Airport (DET), Detroit, Michigan, United States and Rand Airport (QRA), Johannesburg, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,464 miles (or 13,621 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 Coleman A. Young International Airport and Rand 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 Coleman A. Young International Airport and Rand Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | DET / KDET |
| Airport Name: | Coleman A. Young International Airport |
| Location: | Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 42°24'33"N by 83°0'36"W |
| Area Served: | Detroit, Michigan |
| Operator/Owner: | City of Detroit |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 626 feet (191 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from DET |
| More Information: | DET Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | QRA / FAGM |
| Airport Name: | Rand Airport |
| Location: | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 26°14'32"S by 28°9'3"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Rand Airport Management Company (Pty) Ltd. |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 5482 feet (1,671 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from QRA |
| More Information: | QRA Maps & Info |
Facts about Coleman A. Young International Airport (DET):
- Because of Coleman A. Young International Airport's relatively low elevation of 626 feet, planes can take off or land at Coleman A. Young International 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 airport has been listed as an asset of the City of Detroit which could be sold to cover debts as a result of the city's 2013 bankruptcy filing.
- The 53,000-square-foot passenger terminal includes space for restaurants, retail concessions, car rental facilities, airline offices, baggage pick-up and claim areas, boarding areas and passenger lounges.
- The furthest airport from Coleman A. Young International Airport (DET) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,295 miles (18,178 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- The airport was once served by Southwest Airlines and Chautauqua Airlines which left after less than one year of service.Spirit Airlines planned service to the airport using McDonnell-Douglas DC-9 aircraft in 1995, but the service never began.Pro Air, a commercial passenger airline, was based at the airport and grounded by the FAA due to poor maintenance performance.
- The closest airport to Coleman A. Young International Airport (DET) is Windsor International Airport (YQG), which is located only 10 miles (15 kilometers) SSE of DET.
- DET was Detroit's airline airport until 1946-47 when almost all airline flights moved to Willow Run Airport.
- In 1989, former, Detroit Mayor Coleman A.
- Coleman A. Young International Airport (DET) has 2 runways.
Facts about Rand Airport (QRA):
- Boeing 747SP at the South African Airways Museum Society situated near the threshold of Runway 29.
- South African Airways donated two Boeing 747s to the "South African Airways Museum Society" which are on display at the airport.
- Rand Airport is notorious for its hot and high conditions and relatively short runways.
- The closest airport to Rand Airport (QRA) is O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), which is located only 9 miles (15 kilometers) NE of QRA.
- de Havilland DH 104 Dove and Lockheed L18-08 Lodestar on view at the South African Airways Museum Society at Rand Airport.
- Because of Rand Airport's high elevation of 5,482 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at QRA. Combined with a high temperature, this could make QRA a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- Rand Airport (QRA) has 2 runways.
- The furthest airport from Rand Airport (QRA) is Hana Airport (HNM), which is located 11,977 miles (19,275 kilometers) away in Hana, Hawaii, United States.
- SAA moved its headquarters to Palmietfontein Airport in 1948 because of runway length constraints.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 9.61 miles (15.46 km) SSE | Windsor International Airport (YQG) | Windsor, Ontario, Canada |     |
| 2 | 16.38 miles (26.36 km) NNE | Selfridge Air National Guard Base (MTC) | Mount Clemens, Michigan, United States | |
| 3 | 22.19 miles (35.71 km) SW | Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) | Romulus (near Detroit), Michigan, United States | |
| 4 | 27.39 miles (44.08 km) NW | Oakland County International Airport (PTK) | Waterford, Michigan, United States | |
| 5 | 29.10 miles (46.83 km) WSW | Willow Run Airport (YIP) (YIP) | Detroit, Michigan, United States | |
| 6 | 39.72 miles (63.92 km) WSW | Ann Arbor Municipal Airport (ARB) | Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States | |
| 7 | 42.41 miles (68.26 km) NE | St. Clair County International Airport (PHN) | Port Huron, Michigan, United States | |
| 8 | 47.93 miles (77.13 km) E | Chatham-Kent Airport (XCM) | Chatham-Kent, Ontario, Canada | |
| 9 | 53.54 miles (86.16 km) NW | Bishop International Airport (FNT) | Flint, Michigan, United States | |
| 10 | 54.13 miles (87.11 km) NE | Sarnia (Chris Hadfield) Airport (YZR) | Sarnia, Ontario, Canada | |
| 11 | 63.19 miles (101.69 km) SSW | Toledo Executive Airport (TDZ) | Toledo, Ohio, United States | |
| 12 | 66.25 miles (106.62 km) SW | Lenawee County Airport (ADG) | Adrian, Michigan, United States | |
| 13 | 69.89 miles (112.47 km) SSE | Griffing Sandusky Airport (SKY) | Sandusky, Ohio, United States | |
| 14 | 70.05 miles (112.73 km) SW | Toledo Express Airport (TOL) | Toledo, Ohio, United States | |
| 15 | 74.79 miles (120.37 km) W | Jackson County Airport (JXN) | Jackson, Michigan, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,295.39 miles (18,178.12 km) WSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,271.56 miles (18,139.77 km) WSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,260.09 miles (18,121.31 km) WSW | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,246.01 miles (18,098.65 km) WSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,205.34 miles (18,033.20 km) WSW | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,192.86 miles (18,013.11 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,181.65 miles (17,995.07 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,170.81 miles (17,977.63 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,166.35 miles (17,970.46 km) WSW | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,134.03 miles (17,918.44 km) SW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,072.69 miles (17,819.72 km) SW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,039.10 miles (17,765.66 km) SW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,032.23 miles (17,754.60 km) SW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,023.29 miles (17,740.22 km) SW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,964.35 miles (17,645.36 km) WSW | Esperance Airport (EPR) | Esperance, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 9.26 miles (14.90 km) NE | O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | |
| 2 | 17.71 miles (28.50 km) N | Grand Central Airport (GCJ) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 3 | 23.65 miles (38.05 km) SE | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| 4 | 25.22 miles (40.58 km) NNW | Lanseria International Airport (HLA) | Lanseria, South Africa | |
| 5 | 40.94 miles (65.89 km) N | Wonderboom Airport (PRY) | Pretoria, South Africa | |
| 6 | 87.43 miles (140.70 km) NW | Pilanesberg International Airport (NTY) | Pilanesberg, South Africa | |
| 7 | 164.61 miles (264.91 km) W | Mafikeng Airport (MBD) | Mmabatho, South Africa | |
| 8 | 168.01 miles (270.39 km) WNW | Lobatse Airport (LOQ) | Lobatse, Botswana | |
| 9 | 180.65 miles (290.72 km) S | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 181.68 miles (292.39 km) NW | Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) | Gaborone, Botswana | |
| 11 | 184.75 miles (297.32 km) NNE | Polokwane International Airport (PTG) | Polokwane, South Africa | |
| 12 | 189.05 miles (304.24 km) SSE | Ladysmith Airport (LAY) | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 13 | 193.11 miles (310.78 km) ENE | Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) | Nelspruit, South Africa | |
| 14 | 196.36 miles (316.01 km) E | Matsapha Airport (MTS) | Manzini, Swaziland | |
| 15 | 217.41 miles (349.89 km) SSE | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,977.24 miles (19,275.45 km) NE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,967.32 miles (19,259.48 km) NE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,961.61 miles (19,250.29 km) NE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,961.15 miles (19,249.56 km) NE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,953.31 miles (19,236.94 km) NE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,951.72 miles (19,234.39 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,942.40 miles (19,219.39 km) NNE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,942.08 miles (19,218.86 km) NNE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,940.28 miles (19,215.97 km) NE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,930.76 miles (19,200.65 km) NNE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,926.00 miles (19,192.98 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,923.92 miles (19,189.64 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,923.92 miles (19,189.64 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,922.58 miles (19,187.48 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,916.37 miles (19,177.49 km) NE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |