Nonstop flight route between Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and Sofia, Bulgaria:
Departure Airport:
(29°37'0"S by 31°6'29"E)
Arrival Airport:
(42°41'42"N by 23°24'29"E)
Distance from DUR to SOF:
5,020.17 miles (8,079.16 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- DUR Airport Information
- SOF Airport Information
- Facts about DUR
- Facts about SOF
- Map of Nearest Airports to DUR
- List of Nearest Airports to DUR
- Map of Furthest Airports from DUR
- List of Furthest Airports from DUR
- Map of Nearest Airports to SOF
- List of Nearest Airports to SOF
- Map of Furthest Airports from SOF
- List of Furthest Airports from SOF
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between King Shaka International (DUR), Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and Sofia Airport Vrazhdebna (SOF), Sofia, Bulgaria would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,020 miles (or 8,079 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 Sofia Airport Vrazhdebna, 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 Sofia Airport Vrazhdebna. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | DUR / FALE |
| Airport Name: | King Shaka International |
| Location: | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 29°37'0"S by 31°6'29"E |
| Area Served: | Durban, South Africa |
| Operator/Owner: | Dube Tradeport Company |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 295 feet (90 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from DUR |
| More Information: | DUR Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SOF / LBSF |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Sofia, Bulgaria |
| GPS Coordinates: | 42°41'42"N by 23°24'29"E |
| Area Served: | Sofia, Bulgaria |
| Operator/Owner: | Sofia Airport EAD |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 1742 feet (531 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SOF |
| More Information: | SOF Maps & Info |
Facts about King Shaka International (DUR):
- 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.
- In 2013 Skytrax announced that King Shaka International Airport was the best airport in the world handling under 5 million passengers.
- King Shaka International (DUR) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to King Shaka International (DUR) is Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB), which is located 43 miles (69 kilometers) W of DUR.
- One of the objectives of the cargo terminal is to recapture local air freight traffic from JNB.
- On 8 December 2009, it was reported that "King Shaka International Airport" was indeed the most popular name for the new airport.
- 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.
- Although the larger airport was built to grow the area's international services, it is also a key airport for domestic services throughout South Africa, serving the "Golden Triangle" between Cape Town International Airport, OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, and KSIA itself with 7 airlines.
Facts about Sofia Airport Vrazhdebna (SOF):
- The closest airport to Sofia Airport Vrazhdebna (SOF) is Plovdiv Airport (PDV), which is located 86 miles (138 kilometers) ESE of SOF.
- The project for the construction of a new airport control tower at Sofia Airport commenced on 16 June 2006 with a decision of the BULATSA Management Board.
- According to the plan a new Sofia airport terminal was built to the east of the old terminal and a second runway was constructed alongside the existing one.
- In addition to being known as "Sofia Airport Vrazhdebna", other names for SOF include "Vrazhdebna Airport" and "Летище София".
- The manager will have full visibility over the airport, to guide aircraft landing and taking off.
- In 2004 Strabag demanded an additional 6 million euro due to rising steel prices.
- On 19 August 2011 in the presence of Ivaylo Moskovski, minister of transport, information technology and communications, the BULATSA director general Diyan Dinev, Glavbolgarstroy AD chief executive director Pavel Kalistratov and Glavbolgarstroy AD executive director and management board member Nina Stoyanova signed the design execution and construction contract between BULATSA and Glavbolgarstroy AD for the new control tower at Sofia Airport.
- Sofia Airport Vrazhdebna handled 350,432 passengers last year.
- The furthest airport from Sofia Airport Vrazhdebna (SOF) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is located 11,437 miles (18,405 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
- Sofia Airport Vrazhdebna (SOF) currently has only 1 runway.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 42.69 miles (68.70 km) W | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa |     |
| 2 | 84.75 miles (136.40 km) NE | Richards Bay Airport (RCB) | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 3 | 97.26 miles (156.52 km) SSW | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 4 | 108.73 miles (174.98 km) NW | Ladysmith Airport (LAY) | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 5 | 124.64 miles (200.58 km) W | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 6 | 131.67 miles (211.91 km) NNE | Hluhluwe Airport (HLW) | Hluhluwe, South Africa | |
| 7 | 148.34 miles (238.73 km) W | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 8 | 165.42 miles (266.22 km) W | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 9 | 183.53 miles (295.37 km) W | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 191.57 miles (308.31 km) WNW | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 11 | 196.76 miles (316.66 km) SW | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 12 | 213.69 miles (343.90 km) N | Matsapha Airport (MTS) | Manzini, Swaziland | |
| 13 | 214.01 miles (344.41 km) W | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 14 | 232.28 miles (373.82 km) W | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 270.59 miles (435.46 km) NNE | Maputo International Airport (MPM) | Maputo, Mozambique | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,682.45 miles (18,801.04 km) NE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,672.61 miles (18,785.19 km) NE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,668.14 miles (18,778.00 km) NE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,666.75 miles (18,775.76 km) NE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,660.00 miles (18,764.91 km) NE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,657.49 miles (18,760.87 km) NE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,651.72 miles (18,751.58 km) NNE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,648.60 miles (18,746.56 km) NE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,646.05 miles (18,742.46 km) NE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,637.42 miles (18,728.56 km) NE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,636.90 miles (18,727.73 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,634.60 miles (18,724.02 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,633.67 miles (18,722.53 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,633.67 miles (18,722.53 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,626.63 miles (18,711.20 km) NE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 86.04 miles (138.47 km) ESE | Plovdiv Airport (PDV) | Plovdiv, Bulgaria | |
| 2 | 90.21 miles (145.17 km) WNW | Niš Constantine the Great International Airport (INI) | Niš, Serbia | |
| 3 | 104.17 miles (167.64 km) WSW | Skopje Airport (SKP) | Skopje, Macedonia | |
| 4 | 114.70 miles (184.58 km) NNE | Craiova International Airport (CRA) | Craiova, Romania | |
| 5 | 116.49 miles (187.47 km) E | Stara Zagora Airport (SZR) | Stara Zagora, Bulgaria | |
| 6 | 120.78 miles (194.38 km) ENE | Gorna Oryahovitsa Airport (GOZ) | Gorna Oryahovitsa, Bulgaria | |
| 7 | 120.89 miles (194.55 km) W | Pristina International Airport "Adem Jashari" (PRN) | Pristina, Kosovo | |
| 8 | 121.98 miles (196.31 km) ESE | Haskovo Malevo Airport (HKV) | Haskovo, Bulgaria | |
| 9 | 137.99 miles (222.08 km) SSE | Kavala International Airport "Alexander The Great" (KVA) | Kavala, Greece | |
| 10 | 150.23 miles (241.78 km) ENE | Ruse Airport (ROU) | Rousse, Bulgaria | |
| 11 | 150.69 miles (242.52 km) E | Bezmer Air Base (JAM) | Yambol (Jambol), Bulgaria | |
| 12 | 151.99 miles (244.60 km) S | Thessaloniki International Airport "Makedonia" (SKG) | Thessaloniki, Greece | |
| 13 | 172.42 miles (277.48 km) SW | Ohrid Airport (OHD) | Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia | |
| 14 | 180.14 miles (289.91 km) W | Dolac Airport (IVG) | Berane, Montenegro | |
| 15 | 182.69 miles (294.02 km) SE | Alexandroupolis International Airport (AXD) | Alexandroupolis, Greece | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,436.55 miles (18,405.29 km) E | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,080.97 miles (17,833.04 km) E | Gisborne Airport (GIS) | Gisborne, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,042.80 miles (17,771.62 km) E | Hawke's Bay Airport (NPE) | Napier, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,008.76 miles (17,716.84 km) E | Whakatane Airport (WHK) | Whakatane, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,008.49 miles (17,716.41 km) E | Hood Aerodrome (MRO) | Masterton, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,004.83 miles (17,710.51 km) SSW | Rurutu Airport (RUR) | Rurutu, French Polynesia | |
| 7 | 10,997.71 miles (17,699.06 km) S | Mangaia Island Airport (MGS) | Mangaia Island, Cook Islands | |
| 8 | 10,996.07 miles (17,696.41 km) E | Palmerston North Airport (PMR) | Palmerston North, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 10,986.67 miles (17,681.28 km) E | Taupo AirportTe Papa Waka Rererangi o Taupō (TUO) | Taupo, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 10,983.29 miles (17,675.84 km) E | Rotorua International Airport (ROT) | Rotorua, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 10,974.71 miles (17,662.04 km) E | Kapiti Coast Airport (PPQ) | Paraparaumu Beach, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 10,972.38 miles (17,658.28 km) E | Wellington International Airport (WLG) | Wellington, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 10,966.07 miles (17,648.14 km) E | Tauranga Airport (TRG) | Tauranga, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 10,959.16 miles (17,637.01 km) E | Wanganui Airport (WAG) | Wanganui, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 10,944.51 miles (17,613.43 km) E | Matamata Airport (MTA) | Matamata, New Zealand | |