Nonstop flight route between East London, South Africa and Santander, Cantabria, Spain:
Departure Airport:
(33°2'5"S by 27°49'17"E)
Arrival Airport:
(43°25'36"N by 3°49'11"W)
Distance from ELS to SDR:
5,648.01 miles (9,089.56 km)
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- About this route
- ELS Airport Information
- SDR Airport Information
- Facts about ELS
- Facts about SDR
- 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 SDR
- List of Nearest Airports to SDR
- Map of Furthest Airports from SDR
- List of Furthest Airports from SDR
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between East London Airport (ELS), East London, South Africa and Santander Airport (SDR), Santander, Cantabria, Spain would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,648 miles (or 9,090 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 Santander 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 Santander 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: | SDR / LEXJ |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Santander, Cantabria, Spain |
| GPS Coordinates: | 43°25'36"N by 3°49'11"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Aena |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 16 feet (5 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SDR |
| More Information: | SDR Maps & Info |
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.
- 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.
- Passenger flights were undertaken by two de Havilland Moth planes on Saturday afternoons and all day on Sundays, weather permitting.
- 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.
- East London Airport (ELS) has 2 runways.
Facts about Santander Airport (SDR):
- The closest airport to Santander Airport (SDR) is Bilbao Airport (BIO), which is located 47 miles (75 kilometers) E of SDR.
- In addition to being known as "Santander Airport", other names for SDR include "Aeropuerto de Santander" and "Aeropuerto de Parayas".
- Santander Airport (SDR) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of Santander Airport's relatively low elevation of 16 feet, planes can take off or land at Santander 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 furthest airport from Santander Airport (SDR) is Kaikoura Aerodrome (KBZ), which is nearly antipodal to Santander Airport (meaning Santander Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Kaikoura Aerodrome), and is located 12,289 miles (19,777 kilometers) away in Kaikoura, New Zealand.
| 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 | 46.50 miles (74.84 km) E | Bilbao Airport (BIO) | Bilbao, Spain | |
| 2 | 66.80 miles (107.51 km) SE | Vitoria-Gasteiz Airport (VIT) | Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain | |
| 3 | 74.63 miles (120.10 km) S | Burgos Airport (RGS) | Burgos, Spain | |
| 4 | 101.06 miles (162.65 km) SE | Logroño–Agoncillo Airport (RJL) | Logroño, Spain | |
| 5 | 102.01 miles (164.17 km) E | San Sebastián Airport (EAS) | San Sebastián, Spain | |
| 6 | 109.33 miles (175.95 km) WSW | León Airport (LEN) | León, Spain | |
| 7 | 111.40 miles (179.29 km) W | Asturias Airport (OVD) | Oviedo, Asturias, Spain | |
| 8 | 115.24 miles (185.46 km) E | Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne Airport (BIQ) | Biarritz, France | |
| 9 | 118.65 miles (190.95 km) ESE | Pamplona Airport (PNA) | Pamplona, Spain | |
| 10 | 129.97 miles (209.17 km) SSW | Valladolid International Airport (VLL) | Valladolid, Spain | |
| 11 | 157.00 miles (252.66 km) ENE | La Teste-de-Buch Airport (XAC) | Arcachon, France | |
| 12 | 170.76 miles (274.82 km) E | Pau Pyrénées Airport (PUF) | Pau, France | |
| 13 | 181.86 miles (292.67 km) ENE | Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport (BOD) | Bordeaux / Mérignac, France | |
| 14 | 182.49 miles (293.69 km) SW | Bragança Airport (BGC) | Bragança, Portugal | |
| 15 | 186.54 miles (300.20 km) SE | Zaragoza Airport (ZAZ) | Zaragoza, Spain | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,289.16 miles (19,777.43 km) ESE | Kaikoura Aerodrome (KBZ) | Kaikoura, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 12,275.65 miles (19,755.70 km) SSE | Wellington International Airport (WLG) | Wellington, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 12,265.09 miles (19,738.70 km) S | Hood Aerodrome (MRO) | Masterton, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 12,260.05 miles (19,730.59 km) SE | Woodbourne Airport (BHE) | Blenheim, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 12,253.81 miles (19,720.55 km) E | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 12,252.17 miles (19,717.91 km) SSE | Kapiti Coast Airport (PPQ) | Paraparaumu Beach, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 12,226.00 miles (19,675.78 km) SE | Nelson AirportTe Papa Waka Rererangi o Whakatū (NSN) | Nelson, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 12,220.22 miles (19,666.49 km) S | Palmerston North Airport (PMR) | Palmerston North, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 12,215.28 miles (19,658.54 km) E | Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) | Ashburton, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 12,209.09 miles (19,648.58 km) SE | Motueka Aerodrome (MZP) | Motueka, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 12,191.36 miles (19,620.04 km) SE | Takaka Aerodrome (KTF) | Takaka, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 12,190.12 miles (19,618.04 km) SSE | Wanganui Airport (WAG) | Wanganui, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 12,182.72 miles (19,606.13 km) ESE | Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (TIU) | Timaru, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 12,175.80 miles (19,595.00 km) ESE | Greymouth Airport (GMN) | Greymouth, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 12,175.39 miles (19,594.34 km) ESE | Westport Airport (WSZ) | Westport, New Zealand | |