About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between East London Airport (ELS), East London, South Africa and Royal Air Force Station Gatow (GWW), Berlin, Germany would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,974 miles (or 9,615 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 East London Airport and Royal Air Force Station Gatow, 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 East London Airport and Royal Air Force Station Gatow. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!

Departure 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

Arrival Airport Information:

IATA / ICAO Codes: GWW / EDBG
Airport Name: Royal Air Force Station Gatow
Location: Berlin, Germany
GPS Coordinates: 52°28'27"N by 13°8'17"E
Operator/Owner: formerly: Ministry of Defence,
now: Bundeswehr
Airport Type: Military
(airport no longer in operation)
Elevation: 161 feet (49 meters)
# of Runways: 1
View all routes: Routes from GWW
More Information: GWW Maps & Info

Facts about East London Airport (ELS):

  • 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.
  • 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 resides at an elevation of 435 feet above mean sea level.
  • In 1965 the airport was again moved, this time to its present site, 9 km west of the city centre.
  • 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.
  • East London Airport (ELS) has 2 runways.

Facts about Royal Air Force Station Gatow (GWW):

  • To commemorate Australian participation in the Airlift, the Royal Australian Air Force presented RAF Gatow with a retired Douglas Dakota in the 1980s, to use as a gate guardian.
  • The closest airport to Royal Air Force Station Gatow (GWW) is Berlin Tegel Airport (TXL), which is located only 9 miles (14 kilometers) NE of GWW.
  • Late April 1945, towards the end of World War II in Europe, the airfield was occupied by the advancing Red Army.
  • Royal Air Force Station Gatow (GWW) currently has only 1 runway.
  • The novel Air Bridge by Hammond Innes is partially set in RAF Gatow at the time of the Berlin Airlift, and is notable for its accurate descriptions of the Station, including corridors and rooms within it.
  • Following the reunification of Germany, the British ceded control of Gatow Airport on 18 June 1994, and it was handed back to the German Air Force on 7 September 1994.
  • RAF Gatow has the unique and unlikely distinction of being the base for the only known operational use of flying boats in central Europe, during the Berlin Blockade, on the nearby Großer Wannsee in the Havel river.
  • The furthest airport from Royal Air Force Station Gatow (GWW) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is located 11,694 miles (18,819 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
  • Because of Royal Air Force Station Gatow's relatively low elevation of 161 feet, planes can take off or land at Royal Air Force Station Gatow 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.

Map of Nearest Airports to East London Airport:

List of Nearest Airports to East London Airport:

RankDistance & DirectionAirport Name & IATA CodeAirport LocationFurther Actions
165.15 miles (104.85 km) WSWPort Alfred Airport (AFD)Port Alfred, South AfricaView Port Alfred Airport on a map Set AFD as origin Airport Set AFD as destination Airport Get more information about Port Alfred Airport
2114.31 miles (183.96 km) NNEMthatha Airport (UTT)Mthatha, South AfricaView Mthatha Airport on a map Set UTT as origin Airport Set UTT as destination Airport Get more information about Mthatha Airport
3143.28 miles (230.59 km) WSWPort Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ)Port Elizabeth, South AfricaView Port Elizabeth International Airport on a map Set PLZ as origin Airport Set PLZ as destination Airport Get more information about Port Elizabeth International Airport
4210.82 miles (339.28 km) NEMargate Airport (MGH)Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaView Margate Airport on a map Set MGH as origin Airport Set MGH as destination Airport Get more information about Margate Airport
5221.32 miles (356.17 km) NSemonkong Airport (SOK)Semonkong, LesothoView Semonkong Airport on a map Set SOK as origin Airport Set SOK as destination Airport Get more information about Semonkong Airport
6222.73 miles (358.45 km) NNELebakeng Airport (LEF)Lebakeng, LesothoView Lebakeng Airport on a map Set LEF as origin Airport Set LEF as destination Airport Get more information about Lebakeng Airport
7226.04 miles (363.78 km) NMafeteng Airport (MFC)Mafeteng, LesothoView Mafeteng Airport on a map Set MFC as origin Airport Set MFC as destination Airport Get more information about Mafeteng Airport
8228.78 miles (368.18 km) NLesobeng Airport (LES)Lesobeng, LesothoView Lesobeng Airport on a map Set LES as origin Airport Set LES as destination Airport Get more information about Lesobeng Airport
9247.37 miles (398.09 km) NMoshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU)Maseru, LesothoView Moshoeshoe I International Airport on a map Set MSU as origin Airport Set MSU as destination Airport Get more information about Moshoeshoe I International Airport
10269.67 miles (433.99 km) NNEMokhotlong Airport (MKH)Mokhotlong, LesothoView Mokhotlong Airport on a map Set MKH as origin Airport Set MKH as destination Airport Get more information about Mokhotlong Airport
11279.14 miles (449.23 km) NNEPietermaritzburg Airport (PZB)Pietermaritzburg, South AfricaView Pietermaritzburg Airport on a map Set PZB as origin Airport Set PZB as destination Airport Get more information about Pietermaritzburg Airport
12286.72 miles (461.43 km) NNWBloemfontein International Airport (BFN)Bloemfontein, Free State, South AfricaView Bloemfontein International Airport on a map Set BFN as origin Airport Set BFN as destination Airport Get more information about Bloemfontein International Airport
13289.10 miles (465.25 km) NLeribe Airport (LRB)Leribe, LesothoView Leribe Airport on a map Set LRB as origin Airport Set LRB as destination Airport Get more information about Leribe Airport
14305.60 miles (491.81 km) NEKing Shaka International (DUR)Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaView King Shaka International on a map Set DUR as origin Airport Set DUR as destination Airport Get more information about King Shaka International
15320.45 miles (515.72 km) WSWGeorge Airport (GRJ)George, South AfricaView George Airport on a map Set GRJ as origin Airport Set GRJ as destination Airport Get more information about George Airport

Map of Furthest Airports from East London Airport:

List of Furthest Airports from East London Airport:

RankDistance & DirectionAirport Name & IATA CodeAirport LocationFurther Actions
111,568.58 miles (18,617.79 km) NNEKalaupapa Airport (LUP)Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United StatesView Kalaupapa Airport on a map Set LUP as origin Airport Set LUP as destination Airport Get more information about Kalaupapa Airport
211,567.16 miles (18,615.49 km) NNEPrinceville Airport (HPV)Hanalei, Hawaii, United StatesView Princeville Airport on a map Set HPV as origin Airport Set HPV as destination Airport Get more information about Princeville Airport
311,563.78 miles (18,610.05 km) NNEDillingham Airfield (HDH)Mokuleia, Hawaii, United StatesView Dillingham Airfield on a map Set HDH as origin Airport Set HDH as destination Airport Get more information about Dillingham Airfield
411,562.20 miles (18,607.51 km) NNEMolokai Airport (MKK)Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United StatesView Molokai Airport on a map Set MKK as origin Airport Set MKK as destination Airport Get more information about Molokai Airport
511,561.78 miles (18,606.84 km) NNEWheeler AAF (HHI)Wahiawa, Hawaii, United StatesView Wheeler AAF on a map Set HHI as origin Airport Set HHI as destination Airport Get more information about Wheeler AAF
611,558.95 miles (18,602.28 km) NNEHana Airport (HNM)Hana, Hawaii, United StatesView Hana Airport on a map Set HNM as origin Airport Set HNM as destination Airport Get more information about Hana Airport
711,558.59 miles (18,601.70 km) NNEKahului Airport (OGG)Kahului, Hawaii, United StatesView Kahului Airport on a map Set OGG as origin Airport Set OGG as destination Airport Get more information about Kahului Airport
811,558.30 miles (18,601.24 km) NNEKapalua Airport (JHM)Lahaina, Hawaii, United StatesView Kapalua Airport on a map Set JHM as origin Airport Set JHM as destination Airport Get more information about Kapalua Airport
911,556.31 miles (18,598.04 km) NNELihue Airport (LIH)Lihue, Hawaii, United StatesView Lihue Airport on a map Set LIH as origin Airport Set LIH as destination Airport Get more information about Lihue Airport
1011,554.09 miles (18,594.46 km) NNEHonolulu International Airport (HNL)Honolulu, Hawaii, United StatesView Honolulu International Airport on a map Set HNL as origin Airport Set HNL as destination Airport Get more information about Honolulu International Airport
1111,554.09 miles (18,594.46 km) NNEHickam Field (HIK)Honolulu, Hawaii, United StatesView Hickam Field on a map Set HIK as origin Airport Set HIK as destination Airport Get more information about Hickam Field
1211,549.72 miles (18,587.42 km) NNEKalaeloa Airport (NAX)Kapolei, Hawaii, United StatesView Kalaeloa Airport on a map Set NAX as origin Airport Set NAX as destination Airport Get more information about Kalaeloa Airport
1311,545.26 miles (18,580.25 km) NNEPMRF Barking Sands (BKH)Kekaha, Hawaii, United StatesView PMRF Barking Sands on a map Set BKH as origin Airport Set BKH as destination Airport Get more information about PMRF Barking Sands
1411,543.40 miles (18,577.26 km) NNEPort Allen Airport (PAK)Hanapepe, Hawaii, United StatesView Port Allen Airport on a map Set PAK as origin Airport Set PAK as destination Airport Get more information about Port Allen Airport
1511,541.15 miles (18,573.63 km) NNELanai Airport (LNY)Lanai City, Hawaii, United StatesView Lanai Airport on a map Set LNY as origin Airport Set LNY as destination Airport Get more information about Lanai Airport

Map of Nearest Airports to Royal Air Force Station Gatow:

List of Nearest Airports to Royal Air Force Station Gatow:

RankDistance & DirectionAirport Name & IATA CodeAirport LocationFurther Actions
18.62 miles (13.88 km) NEBerlin Tegel Airport (TXL)Tegel / Berlin, GermanyView Berlin Tegel Airport on a map Set TXL as destination Airport Set TXL as destination Airport Get more information about Berlin Tegel Airport
211.09 miles (17.85 km) EBerlin Tempelhof Airport (THF)Berlin, GermanyView Berlin Tempelhof Airport on a map Set THF as destination Airport Set THF as destination Airport Get more information about Berlin Tempelhof Airport
317.42 miles (28.04 km) ESEBerlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF)Berlin, GermanyView Berlin Schönefeld Airport on a map Set SXF as destination Airport Set SXF as destination Airport Get more information about Berlin Schönefeld Airport
471.56 miles (115.16 km) SECottbus-Drewitz Airport (CBU)Cottbus, Brandenburg, GermanyView Cottbus-Drewitz Airport on a map Set CBU as destination Airport Set CBU as destination Airport Get more information about Cottbus-Drewitz Airport
578.23 miles (125.90 km) NNeubrandenburg Airport (FNB)Neubrandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, GermanyView Neubrandenburg Airport on a map Set FNB as destination Airport Set FNB as destination Airport Get more information about Neubrandenburg Airport
682.12 miles (132.15 km) SSWLeipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ)Leipzig, GermanyView Leipzig/Halle Airport on a map Set LEJ as destination Airport Set LEJ as destination Airport Get more information about Leipzig/Halle Airport
784.49 miles (135.97 km) WSWMagdeburg–Cochstedt Airport (CSO)Magdeburg, GermanyView Magdeburg–Cochstedt Airport on a map Set CSO as destination Airport Set CSO as destination Airport Get more information about Magdeburg–Cochstedt Airport
886.79 miles (139.68 km) NWSchwerin-Parchim Airport (SZW)Parchim, GermanyView Schwerin-Parchim Airport on a map Set SZW as destination Airport Set SZW as destination Airport Get more information about Schwerin-Parchim Airport
996.42 miles (155.17 km) SSEDresden Airport (DRS)Dresden, GermanyView Dresden Airport on a map Set DRS as destination Airport Set DRS as destination Airport Get more information about Dresden Airport
10105.72 miles (170.13 km) NNEHeringsdorf Airport (HDF)Heringsdorf, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, GermanyView Heringsdorf Airport on a map Set HDF as destination Airport Set HDF as destination Airport Get more information about Heringsdorf Airport
11105.92 miles (170.46 km) NNWRostock–Laage Airport (RLG)Rostock, GermanyView Rostock–Laage Airport on a map Set RLG as destination Airport Set RLG as destination Airport Get more information about Rostock–Laage Airport
12106.10 miles (170.75 km) NE"Solidarity" Szczecin–Goleniów Airport (SZZ)Goleniów (near Szczecin), PolandView Solidarity Szczecin–Goleniów Airport on a map Set SZZ as destination Airport Set SZZ as destination Airport Get more information about Solidarity Szczecin–Goleniów Airport
13106.66 miles (171.65 km) SSWLeipzig–Altenburg Airport (AOC)Altenburg, Thuringia, GermanyView Leipzig–Altenburg Airport on a map Set AOC as destination Airport Set AOC as destination Airport Get more information about Leipzig–Altenburg Airport
14114.76 miles (184.69 km) EZielona Góra-Babimost Airport (IEG)Zielona Góra, PolandView Zielona Góra-Babimost Airport on a map Set IEG as destination Airport Set IEG as destination Airport Get more information about Zielona Góra-Babimost Airport
15129.88 miles (209.02 km) NStralsund Barth Airport (BBH)Barth, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, GermanyView Stralsund Barth Airport on a map Set BBH as destination Airport Set BBH as destination Airport Get more information about Stralsund Barth Airport

Map of Furthest Airports from Royal Air Force Station Gatow:

List of Furthest Airports from Royal Air Force Station Gatow:

RankDistance & DirectionAirport Name & IATA CodeAirport LocationFurther Actions
111,693.78 miles (18,819.27 km) SEChatham Islands (CHT)Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New ZealandView Chatham Islands on a map Set CHT as destination Airport Set CHT as destination Airport Get more information about Chatham Islands
211,312.95 miles (18,206.39 km) ESEDunedin International Airport (DUD)Dunedin, Otago, New ZealandView Dunedin International Airport on a map Set DUD as destination Airport Set DUD as destination Airport Get more information about Dunedin International Airport
311,311.87 miles (18,204.64 km) ESEOamaru Airport (OAM)Oamaru, North Otago, New ZealandView Oamaru Airport on a map Set OAM as destination Airport Set OAM as destination Airport Get more information about Oamaru Airport
411,305.68 miles (18,194.68 km) ESEChristchurch International Airport (CHC)Christchurch, New ZealandView Christchurch International Airport on a map Set CHC as destination Airport Set CHC as destination Airport Get more information about Christchurch International Airport
511,296.12 miles (18,179.29 km) ESEKaikoura Aerodrome (KBZ)Kaikoura, New ZealandView Kaikoura Aerodrome on a map Set KBZ as destination Airport Set KBZ as destination Airport Get more information about Kaikoura Aerodrome
611,295.61 miles (18,178.48 km) ESEAshburton Aerodrome (ASG)Ashburton, New ZealandView Ashburton Aerodrome on a map Set ASG as destination Airport Set ASG as destination Airport Get more information about Ashburton Aerodrome
711,294.13 miles (18,176.09 km) SEHood Aerodrome (MRO)Masterton, New ZealandView Hood Aerodrome on a map Set MRO as destination Airport Set MRO as destination Airport Get more information about Hood Aerodrome
811,290.27 miles (18,169.88 km) ESERichard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (TIU)Timaru, New ZealandView Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) on a map Set TIU as destination Airport Set TIU as destination Airport Get more information about Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport)
911,284.25 miles (18,160.20 km) SEWellington International Airport (WLG)Wellington, New ZealandView Wellington International Airport on a map Set WLG as destination Airport Set WLG as destination Airport Get more information about Wellington International Airport
1011,268.64 miles (18,135.07 km) SEKapiti Coast Airport (PPQ)Paraparaumu Beach, New ZealandView Kapiti Coast Airport on a map Set PPQ as destination Airport Set PPQ as destination Airport Get more information about Kapiti Coast Airport
1111,261.16 miles (18,123.03 km) ESEWoodbourne Airport (BHE)Blenheim, New ZealandView Woodbourne Airport on a map Set BHE as destination Airport Set BHE as destination Airport Get more information about Woodbourne Airport
1211,260.31 miles (18,121.67 km) ERyan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS)Stewart Island, New ZealandView Ryan's Creek Aerodrome on a map Set SZS as destination Airport Set SZS as destination Airport Get more information about Ryan's Creek Aerodrome
1311,258.63 miles (18,118.96 km) SEPalmerston North Airport (PMR)Palmerston North, New ZealandView Palmerston North Airport on a map Set PMR as destination Airport Set PMR as destination Airport Get more information about Palmerston North Airport
1411,252.71 miles (18,109.43 km) EInvercargill Airport (IVC)Invercargill, New ZealandView Invercargill Airport on a map Set IVC as destination Airport Set IVC as destination Airport Get more information about Invercargill Airport
1511,252.59 miles (18,109.24 km) ESEAlexandra Aerodrome (ALR)Alexandra, New ZealandView Alexandra Aerodrome on a map Set ALR as destination Airport Set ALR as destination Airport Get more information about Alexandra Aerodrome