Nonstop flight route between East London, South Africa and Somerset, Kentucky, United States:
Departure Airport:
(33°2'5"S by 27°49'17"E)
Arrival Airport:
(37°3'12"N by 84°36'56"W)
Distance from ELS to SME:
8,686.50 miles (13,979.53 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- ELS Airport Information
- SME Airport Information
- Facts about ELS
- Facts about SME
- 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 SME
- List of Nearest Airports to SME
- Map of Furthest Airports from SME
- List of Furthest Airports from SME
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between East London Airport (ELS), East London, South Africa and Lake Cumberland Regional Airport (SME), Somerset, Kentucky, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,687 miles (or 13,980 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 Lake Cumberland Regional 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 Lake Cumberland Regional 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: | SME / KSME |
| Airport Name: | Lake Cumberland Regional Airport |
| Location: | Somerset, Kentucky, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 37°3'12"N by 84°36'56"W |
| Area Served: | Somerset, Kentucky |
| Operator/Owner: | Somerset-Pulaski County |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 927 feet (283 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SME |
| More Information: | SME Maps & Info |
Facts about East London Airport (ELS):
- The airport was renamed in 1994.
- East London Airport (ELS) has 2 runways.
- 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.
- 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.
Facts about Lake Cumberland Regional Airport (SME):
- Because of Lake Cumberland Regional Airport's relatively low elevation of 927 feet, planes can take off or land at Lake Cumberland Regional 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.
- Lake Cumberland Regional Airport (SME) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Lake Cumberland Regional Airport (SME) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,309 miles (18,200 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- The closest airport to Lake Cumberland Regional Airport (SME) is London-Corbin Airport (LOZ), which is located 30 miles (48 kilometers) E of SME.
| 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 | 29.75 miles (47.88 km) E | London-Corbin Airport (LOZ) | London, Kentucky, United States | |
| 2 | 67.91 miles (109.28 km) N | Blue Grass Airport (LEX) | Lexington, Kentucky, United States | |
| 3 | 71.53 miles (115.11 km) NW | Samuels Field (BRY) | Bardstown, Kentucky, United States | |
| 4 | 73.82 miles (118.81 km) W | Glasgow Municipal Airport (GLW) | Glasgow, Kentucky, United States | |
| 5 | 78.28 miles (125.98 km) S | Rockwood Municipal Airport (RKW) | Rockwood, Tennessee, United States | |
| 6 | 79.57 miles (128.05 km) NNW | Capital City Airport (FFT) | Frankfort, Kentucky, United States | |
| 7 | 84.14 miles (135.41 km) WNW | Addington Field (EKX) | Elizabethtown, Kentucky, United States | |
| 8 | 91.52 miles (147.29 km) SE | Morristown Regional Airport (MOR) | Morristown, Tennessee, United States | |
| 9 | 92.54 miles (148.93 km) SSE | McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) | Knoxville, Tennessee, United States | |
| 10 | 94.92 miles (152.75 km) NW | Godman Army Airfield (FTK) | Fort Knox, Kentucky, United States | |
| 11 | 98.78 miles (158.97 km) NW | Louisville International Airport (SDF) | Louisville, Kentucky, United States | |
| 12 | 99.36 miles (159.90 km) NW | Bowman Field (LOU) | Louisville, Kentucky, United States | |
| 13 | 99.73 miles (160.50 km) W | Paducah KY (BWG) | Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States | |
| 14 | 102.35 miles (164.71 km) SE | Gatlinburg–Pigeon Forge Airport (GKT) | Sevierville, Tennessee, United States | |
| 15 | 114.48 miles (184.24 km) S | McMinn County Airport (MMI) | Athens, Tennessee, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,309.05 miles (18,200.10 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,287.65 miles (18,165.67 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,265.95 miles (18,130.74 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,258.23 miles (18,118.32 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,240.41 miles (18,089.64 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,224.29 miles (18,063.70 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,216.42 miles (18,051.03 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,215.52 miles (18,049.58 km) W | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,182.64 miles (17,996.66 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,177.80 miles (17,988.88 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,164.01 miles (17,966.68 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,163.01 miles (17,965.07 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,129.18 miles (17,910.63 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,128.91 miles (17,910.20 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,120.18 miles (17,896.16 km) WSW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |