Nonstop flight route between East London, South Africa and Lifuka, Ha'apai, Tonga:
Departure Airport:
(33°2'5"S by 27°49'17"E)
Arrival Airport:
(19°46'36"S by 174°20'27"W)
Distance from ELS to HPA:
8,505.62 miles (13,688.44 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- ELS Airport Information
- HPA Airport Information
- Facts about ELS
- Facts about HPA
- Map of Nearest Airports to ELS
- List of Nearest Airports to ELS
- Map of Furthest Airports from ELS
- List of Furthest Airports from ELS
- Map of Nearest Airports to HPA
- List of Nearest Airports to HPA
- Map of Furthest Airports from HPA
- List of Furthest Airports from HPA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between East London Airport (ELS), East London, South Africa and Lifuka Island Airport (HPA), Lifuka, Ha'apai, Tonga would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,506 miles (or 13,688 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 Lifuka Island 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 East London Airport and Lifuka Island Airport. 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: | HPA / NFTL |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Lifuka, Ha'apai, Tonga |
| GPS Coordinates: | 19°46'36"S by 174°20'27"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Ministry of Civil Aviation |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 31 feet (9 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from HPA |
| More Information: | HPA Maps & Info |
Facts about East London Airport (ELS):
- 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.
- The closest airport to East London Airport (ELS) is Port Alfred Airport (AFD), which is located 65 miles (105 kilometers) WSW of ELS.
- 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.
- In 1965 the airport was again moved, this time to its present site, 9 km west of the city centre.
- East London Airport (ELS) has 2 runways.
Facts about Lifuka Island Airport (HPA):
- The furthest airport from Lifuka Island Airport (HPA) is In Guezzam Airport (INF), which is nearly antipodal to Lifuka Island Airport (meaning Lifuka Island Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from In Guezzam Airport), and is located 12,421 miles (19,989 kilometers) away in In Guezzam, Algeria.
- The closest airport to Lifuka Island Airport (HPA) is Fuaʻamotu International Airport (TBU), which is located 114 miles (183 kilometers) SSW of HPA.
- Because of Lifuka Island Airport's relatively low elevation of 31 feet, planes can take off or land at Lifuka Island 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.
- Lifuka Island Airport (HPA) currently has only 1 runway.
- In addition to being known as "Lifuka Island Airport", another name for HPA is "Salote Pilolevu Airport".
| 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 | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 113.90 miles (183.31 km) SSW | Fuaʻamotu International Airport (TBU) | Nukuʻalofa, Tongatapu, Tonga | |
| 2 | 291.70 miles (469.45 km) E | Niue International Airport (IUE) | Alofi, Niue | |
| 3 | 302.72 miles (487.18 km) NNW | Mata'aho Airport (NFO) | Niuafo'ou, Tonga | |
| 4 | 356.03 miles (572.98 km) WNW | Cicia Airport (ICI) | Cicia, Fiji | |
| 5 | 381.73 miles (614.34 km) WNW | Moala Airport (MFJ) | Moala, Moala Islands, Fiji | |
| 6 | 438.88 miles (706.31 km) NNE | Faleolo International Airport (APW) | Apia, Upolu Island, Samoa | |
| 7 | 439.09 miles (706.65 km) NNE | Maota (Salelologa) Airport (MXS) | Maota, Samoa | |
| 8 | 441.64 miles (710.75 km) WNW | Koro Airport (KXF) | Koro Island, Fiji | |
| 9 | 444.19 miles (714.85 km) NNE | Fagali'i Airport (FGI) | Apia, Samoa | |
| 10 | 447.91 miles (720.84 km) NNE | Asau Airport (AAU) | Asau, Samoa | |
| 11 | 449.50 miles (723.40 km) NNE | Pago Pago International Airport (PPG) | Pago Pago, American Samoa | |
| 12 | 450.65 miles (725.24 km) NNW | Aéroport de Futuna - Pointe-Vele Pointe Vele Airport (FUT) | Futuna Island, Wallis and Futuna Islands | |
| 13 | 466.30 miles (750.44 km) NNW | Wallis Island (WLS) | Wallis and Futuna Islands | |
| 14 | 473.44 miles (761.93 km) WNW | Levuka Airfield (LEV) | Bureta, Ovalau Island, Fiji | |
| 15 | 473.72 miles (762.38 km) WNW | Labasa Airport (LBS) | Labasa, Fiji | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,420.74 miles (19,989.19 km) NNW | In Guezzam Airport (INF) | In Guezzam, Algeria | |
| 2 | 12,306.55 miles (19,805.42 km) WNW | Arlit Airport (RLT) | Arlit, Niger | |
| 3 | 12,226.72 miles (19,676.95 km) N | Aguenar – Hadj Bey Akhamok Airport (TMR) | Tamanrasset, Algeria | |
| 4 | 12,189.26 miles (19,616.67 km) NW | Mano Dayak International Airport (AJY) | Agadez, Niger | |
| 5 | 12,111.36 miles (19,491.30 km) ENE | Bordj Mokhtar Airport (BMW) | Bordj Badji Mokhtar, Algeria | |
| 6 | 12,097.71 miles (19,469.33 km) N | Tahoua Airport (THZ) | Tahoua, Niger | |
| 7 | 12,041.40 miles (19,378.71 km) NW | Djanet Tiska Airport (DJG) | Djanet, Algeria | |
| 8 | 11,992.56 miles (19,300.11 km) ENE | Gao International Airport (GAQ) | Gao, Mali | |
| 9 | 11,992.55 miles (19,300.09 km) NNW | Maradi Airport (MFQ) | Maradi, Niger | |
| 10 | 11,968.32 miles (19,261.10 km) NW | Ghat Airport (GHT) | Ghat, Libya | |
| 11 | 11,967.70 miles (19,260.09 km) NNW | Zinder Airport (ZND) | Zinder, Niger | |
| 12 | 11,944.41 miles (19,222.61 km) NNE | Diori Hamani International Airport (NIM) | Niamey, Niger | |
| 13 | 11,930.92 miles (19,200.91 km) NE | Tambao Airport (TMQ) | Tambao, Burkina Faso | |
| 14 | 11,902.37 miles (19,154.96 km) NE | Gorom Gorom Airport (XGG) | Gorom Gorom, Burkina Faso | |
| 15 | 11,888.17 miles (19,132.10 km) NE | Dori Airport (DOR) | Dori, Burkina Faso | |