Nonstop flight route between Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between King Shaka International (DUR), Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and Molokai Airport (MKK), Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 11,660 miles (or 18,765 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 King Shaka International and Molokai 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 King Shaka International and Molokai Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about King Shaka International (DUR):

• The airport is located in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, approximately 35 km north of Durban.
• On 8 December 2009, it was reported that "King Shaka International Airport" was indeed the most popular name for the new airport.
• As a result, a study into the risks of bird strikes at KSIA was commissioned, with special attention being paid to the Barn Swallows at Mount Moreland.
• Because of King Shaka International's relatively low elevation of 295 feet, planes can take off or land at King Shaka International 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 project was revived in the late 1990s when the limitations of Durban International Airport became apparent.
• The furthest airport from King Shaka International (DUR) is Hana Airport (HNM), which is located 11,682 miles (18,801 kilometers) away in Hana, Hawaii, United States.
• King Shaka International (DUR) currently has only 1 runway.
• Mount Moreland, a small community located 2.6 km south of the airport, is an important roosting site for the European Barn Swallow.
• The closest airport to King Shaka International (DUR) is Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB), which is located 43 miles (69 kilometers) W of DUR.
• The arrivals area is located on the lower floor, with a baggage reclaim hall containing 5 conveyors that can be allocated between domestic and international use.

Facts about Molokai Airport (MKK):

• Molokai Airport occupies 288 acres at an elevation of 454 ft above mean sea level on the central plateau of the island of Molokai.
• The closest airport to Molokai Airport (MKK) is Kalaupapa Airport (LUP), which is located only 9 miles (14 kilometers) ENE of MKK.
• Molokai Airport (MKK) has 2 runways.
• The furthest airport from Molokai Airport (MKK) is Maun Airport (MUB), which is nearly antipodal to Molokai Airport (meaning Molokai Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Maun Airport), and is located 12,348 miles (19,873 kilometers) away in Maun, Botswana.
• The passenger terminal complex and general aviation facilities are north of the runway intersection.
• Because of Molokai Airport's relatively low elevation of 454 feet, planes can take off or land at Molokai 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.
• As per Federal Aviation Administration records, the airport had 89,468 passenger boardings in calendar year 2008, 65,984 enplanements in 2009, and 88,688 in 2010.
• On October 28, 1989, Aloha Island Air flight 1712, a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft, collided with mountains near Halawa Valley, Molokai, while en route on a scheduled passenger flight from Kahului Airport to Molokai Airport in Hoolehua.