Nonstop flight route between Shangri-La, Yunnan, China and East London, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(27°47'35"N by 99°40'38"E)
Arrival Airport:
(33°2'5"S by 27°49'17"E)
Distance from DIG to ELS:
6,310.44 miles (10,155.65 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- DIG Airport Information
- ELS Airport Information
- Facts about DIG
- Facts about ELS
- Map of Nearest Airports to DIG
- List of Nearest Airports to DIG
- Map of Furthest Airports from DIG
- List of Furthest Airports from DIG
- Map of Nearest Airports to ELS
- List of Nearest Airports to ELS
- Map of Furthest Airports from ELS
- List of Furthest Airports from ELS
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Dêqên Shangri-La Airport (DIG), Shangri-La, Yunnan, China and East London Airport (ELS), East London, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,310 miles (or 10,156 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 Dêqên Shangri-La Airport and East London 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 Dêqên Shangri-La Airport and East London Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | DIG / ZPDQ |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Shangri-La, Yunnan, China |
| GPS Coordinates: | 27°47'35"N by 99°40'38"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Yunnan Airport Group |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 10761 feet (3,280 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from DIG |
| More Information: | DIG Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | ELS / FAEL |
| Airport Name: | East London Airport |
| Location: | East London, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 33°2'5"S by 27°49'17"E |
| Area Served: | East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 436 feet (133 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from ELS |
| More Information: | ELS Maps & Info |
Facts about Dêqên Shangri-La Airport (DIG):
- Because of Dêqên Shangri-La Airport's high elevation of 10,761 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at DIG. Combined with a high temperature, this could make DIG a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- The furthest airport from Dêqên Shangri-La Airport (DIG) is La Florida Airport (LSC), which is located 11,866 miles (19,096 kilometers) away in La Serena, Chile.
- The closest airport to Dêqên Shangri-La Airport (DIG) is Lijiang Sanyi Airport (LJG), which is located 85 miles (136 kilometers) SSE of DIG.
- Dêqên Shangri-La Airport (DIG) currently has only 1 runway.
- In addition to being known as "Dêqên Shangri-La Airport", other names for DIG include "迪庆香格里拉机场" and "Díqìng Xiānggélǐlā Jīchǎng".
Facts about East London Airport (ELS):
- In 1965 the airport was again moved, this time to its present site, 9 km west of the city centre.
- The closest airport to East London Airport (ELS) is Port Alfred Airport (AFD), which is located 65 miles (105 kilometers) WSW of ELS.
- East London Airport (ELS) has 2 runways.
- The furthest airport from East London Airport (ELS) is Kalaupapa Airport (LUP), which is located 11,569 miles (18,618 kilometers) away in Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States.
- The airport had an inauspicious beginning in 1927, when Lieut Colonel Alistair Miller asked the East London town council to help establish a municipal aerodrome at Woodbrook, west of the city.
- Because of East London Airport's relatively low elevation of 436 feet, planes can take off or land at East London 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 | 84.53 miles (136.04 km) SSE | Lijiang Sanyi Airport (LJG) | Lijiang City, Yunnan, China |     |
| 2 | 108.13 miles (174.02 km) NNE | Daocheng Yading Airport (DCY) | Daocheng, Sichuan, China | |
| 3 | 153.21 miles (246.56 km) SSE | Dali Airport (DLU) | Dali, Yunnan, China | |
| 4 | 153.70 miles (247.35 km) E | Xichang Qingshan Airport (XIC) | Qingshan, China | |
| 5 | 191.92 miles (308.86 km) S | Baoshan Yunduan Airport (BSD) | Baoshan, Yunnan, China | |
| 6 | 206.94 miles (333.04 km) SSW | Tengchong Tuofeng Airport (TCZ) | Tengchong, Yunnan, China | |
| 7 | 216.63 miles (348.63 km) W | Tezu Airport (TEI) | Tezu, Arunachal Pradesh, India | |
| 8 | 244.70 miles (393.81 km) SSW | Dehong Mangshi Airport (LUM) | Mang City, Yunnan, China | |
| 9 | 245.72 miles (395.45 km) NW | Qamdo Bamda Airport (BPX) | Qamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, China | |
| 10 | 251.92 miles (405.43 km) E | Zhaotong Airport (ZAT) | Zhaotong, Yunnan, China | |
| 11 | 262.93 miles (423.14 km) W | Pasighat Airport (IXT) | Pasighat (Passighat), India | |
| 12 | 273.92 miles (440.83 km) SE | Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG) | Kunming, Yunnan, China | |
| 13 | 276.38 miles (444.78 km) WSW | Khamti Airport (KHM) | Khamti, Myanmar (Burma) | |
| 14 | 281.01 miles (452.24 km) S | Lincang Airport (LNJ) | Lincang, Yunnan, China | |
| 15 | 285.77 miles (459.91 km) W | Dibrugarh Airport (DIB) | Dibrugarh, India | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,865.74 miles (19,096.02 km) WSW | La Florida Airport (LSC) | La Serena, Chile | |
| 2 | 11,830.75 miles (19,039.69 km) W | Chañaral Airport (CNR) | Chañaral, Atacama Region, Chile | |
| 3 | 11,828.98 miles (19,036.85 km) W | Chamonate Airfield (CPO) | Copiapó, Atacama Region, Chile | |
| 4 | 11,800.91 miles (18,991.68 km) SW | Viña del Mar Airport (KNA) | Viña del Mar, Chile | |
| 5 | 11,779.36 miles (18,956.99 km) W | Ricardo García Posada Airport El Salvador Bajo Airport (ESR) | El Salvador, Chile | |
| 6 | 11,753.28 miles (18,915.03 km) SW | La Unión Airport (LUI) | La Unión, Honduras[disambiguation needed] | |
| 7 | 11,752.32 miles (18,913.49 km) WSW | Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport (former Cerro Moreno International Airport) (ANF) | Antofagasta, Chile | |
| 8 | 11,750.72 miles (18,910.90 km) SW | Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) | Santiago, Chile | |
| 9 | 11,717.86 miles (18,858.01 km) WSW | Carolina Airport (CLN) | Carolina, Maranhão, Brazil | |
| 10 | 11,685.90 miles (18,806.58 km) SSW | Carriel Sur International Airport (CCP) | Concepción, Bío Bío Region, Chile | |
| 11 | 11,675.80 miles (18,790.33 km) WSW | Domingo Faustino Sarmiento Airport (UAQ) | San Juan Province, Argentina | |
| 12 | 11,666.65 miles (18,775.61 km) WSW | Governor Francisco Gabrielli International Airport (MDZ) | Mendoza, Mendoza Province, Argentina | |
| 13 | 11,660.46 miles (18,765.64 km) SW | General Bernardo O'Higgins Airport (YAI) | Chillán, Ñuble, Chile | |
| 14 | 11,634.61 miles (18,724.05 km) WSW | El Loa Airport (CJC) | Calama, Antofagasta Region, Chile | |
| 15 | 11,624.93 miles (18,708.47 km) SW | Diego Aracena International Airport (IQQ) | Iquique, Chile | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 65.15 miles (104.85 km) WSW | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 2 | 114.31 miles (183.96 km) NNE | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 3 | 143.28 miles (230.59 km) WSW | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 4 | 210.82 miles (339.28 km) NE | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 5 | 221.32 miles (356.17 km) N | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 6 | 222.73 miles (358.45 km) NNE | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 7 | 226.04 miles (363.78 km) N | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 8 | 228.78 miles (368.18 km) N | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 9 | 247.37 miles (398.09 km) N | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 269.67 miles (433.99 km) NNE | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 11 | 279.14 miles (449.23 km) NNE | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 12 | 286.72 miles (461.43 km) NNW | Bloemfontein International Airport (BFN) | Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa | |
| 13 | 289.10 miles (465.25 km) N | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 14 | 305.60 miles (491.81 km) NE | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 15 | 320.45 miles (515.72 km) WSW | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,568.58 miles (18,617.79 km) NNE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,567.16 miles (18,615.49 km) NNE | Princeville Airport (HPV) | Hanalei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,563.78 miles (18,610.05 km) NNE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,562.20 miles (18,607.51 km) NNE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,561.78 miles (18,606.84 km) NNE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,558.95 miles (18,602.28 km) NNE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,558.59 miles (18,601.70 km) NNE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,558.30 miles (18,601.24 km) NNE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,556.31 miles (18,598.04 km) NNE | Lihue Airport (LIH) | Lihue, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,554.09 miles (18,594.46 km) NNE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,554.09 miles (18,594.46 km) NNE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,549.72 miles (18,587.42 km) NNE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,545.26 miles (18,580.25 km) NNE | PMRF Barking Sands (BKH) | Kekaha, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,543.40 miles (18,577.26 km) NNE | Port Allen Airport (PAK) | Hanapepe, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,541.15 miles (18,573.63 km) NNE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |