Nonstop flight route between East London, South Africa and La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain:
Departure Airport:
(33°2'5"S by 27°49'17"E)
Arrival Airport:
(28°37'35"N by 17°45'20"W)
Distance from ELS to SPC:
5,202.20 miles (8,372.11 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- ELS Airport Information
- SPC Airport Information
- Facts about ELS
- Facts about SPC
- 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 SPC
- List of Nearest Airports to SPC
- Map of Furthest Airports from SPC
- List of Furthest Airports from SPC
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between East London Airport (ELS), East London, South Africa and La Palma Airport (SPC), La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,202 miles (or 8,372 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 La Palma 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 La Palma 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: | SPC / GCLA |
| Airport Name: | La Palma Airport |
| Location: | La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain |
| GPS Coordinates: | 28°37'35"N by 17°45'20"W |
| Area Served: | La Palma |
| Operator/Owner: | Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 108 feet (33 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SPC |
| More Information: | SPC 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.
- East London Airport (ELS) has 2 runways.
- 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.
- 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.
- Passenger flights were undertaken by two de Havilland Moth planes on Saturday afternoons and all day on Sundays, weather permitting.
Facts about La Palma Airport (SPC):
- Because of La Palma Airport's relatively low elevation of 108 feet, planes can take off or land at La Palma 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 La Palma Airport (SPC) is La Gomera Airport (GMZ), which is located 53 miles (85 kilometers) SE of SPC.
- The furthest airport from La Palma Airport (SPC) is Lord Howe Island Airport (LDH), which is nearly antipodal to La Palma Airport (meaning La Palma Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Lord Howe Island Airport), and is located 12,161 miles (19,570 kilometers) away in Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, Australia.
- La Palma Airport (SPC) currently has only 1 runway.
| 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 | 52.74 miles (84.88 km) SE | La Gomera Airport (GMZ) | Alajeró / San Sebastián, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 2 | 82.42 miles (132.64 km) ESE | Tenerife-South Airport (TFS) | Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 3 | 86.38 miles (139.01 km) E | Tenerife North Airport (TFN) | Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 4 | 151.91 miles (244.48 km) ESE | Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) | Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 5 | 236.51 miles (380.62 km) E | Fuerteventura Airport (FUE) | Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 6 | 252.27 miles (405.99 km) E | Lanzarote Airport (ACE) | Arrecife, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 7 | 286.99 miles (461.87 km) NNE | Madeira Airport (FNC) | Funchal, Madeira, Portugal | |
| 8 | 295.15 miles (474.99 km) ESE | Hassan I Airport El Aaiún Airport (EUN) | El Aaiún (Laayoune), Morocco | |
| 9 | 318.19 miles (512.08 km) NNE | Porto Santo Airport (PXO) | Porto Santo, Madeira, Portugal | |
| 10 | 357.47 miles (575.29 km) SSE | Dakhla Airport (VIL) | Dakhla, Western Sahara | |
| 11 | 400.40 miles (644.37 km) E | Tan Tan Airport (TTA) | Tan-Tan, Morocco | |
| 12 | 515.21 miles (829.14 km) ENE | Agadir – Al Massira Airport (AGA) | Agadir, Morocco | |
| 13 | 516.96 miles (831.96 km) SE | Fderik Airport (FGD) | Fderik, Mauritania | |
| 14 | 519.44 miles (835.95 km) ENE | Essaouira-Mogador Airport (ESU) | Essaouira, Morocco | |
| 15 | 533.50 miles (858.58 km) S | Nouadhibou International Airport (NDB) | Nouadhibou, Mauritania | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,160.54 miles (19,570.44 km) SE | Lord Howe Island Airport (LDH) | Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 2 | 12,091.02 miles (19,458.56 km) W | Norfolk Island Airport (NLK) | Norfolk Island, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,923.90 miles (19,189.61 km) SSW | Nouméa Magenta Airport (GEA) | Nouméa, New Caledonia | |
| 4 | 11,917.19 miles (19,178.81 km) SSW | Tontouta International Airport (NOU) | Noumea, New Caledonia | |
| 5 | 11,910.65 miles (19,168.29 km) E | Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (BNK) | Ballina, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,904.78 miles (19,158.83 km) E | Gold Coast Airport (OOL) | Coolangatta, Queensland, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,901.96 miles (19,154.31 km) E | Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome (EVH) | Evans Head, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,892.39 miles (19,138.90 km) E | Lismore Airport (LSY) | Lismore, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,888.93 miles (19,133.32 km) SSW | Koné Airport (KNQ) | Koné, New Caledonia | |
| 10 | 11,875.68 miles (19,112.00 km) E | Clarence Valley Regional Airport (GFN) | Grafton, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,875.59 miles (19,111.87 km) ESE | Coffs Harbour Airport (CFS) | Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,873.64 miles (19,108.72 km) E | Brisbane Airport (BNE) | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,864.13 miles (19,093.41 km) SSW | Koumac Airport (KOC) | Koumac, New Caledonia | |
| 14 | 11,863.89 miles (19,093.04 km) E | Caloundra Airport (CUD) | Caloundra, Queensland, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,859.45 miles (19,085.88 km) ESE | Sunshine-Coast-Airport (MCY) | Marcoola, Queensland, Australia | |