Nonstop flight route between Fairbanks, Alaska, United States and Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar:
Departure Airport:
(64°48'53"N by 147°51'23"W)
Arrival Airport:
(17°5'38"S by 49°48'56"E)
Distance from FAI to SMS:
9,038.06 miles (14,545.31 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- FAI Airport Information
- SMS Airport Information
- Facts about FAI
- Facts about SMS
- Map of Nearest Airports to FAI
- List of Nearest Airports to FAI
- Map of Furthest Airports from FAI
- List of Furthest Airports from FAI
- Map of Nearest Airports to SMS
- List of Nearest Airports to SMS
- Map of Furthest Airports from SMS
- List of Furthest Airports from SMS
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Fairbanks International Airport (FAI), Fairbanks, Alaska, United States and Sainte Marie Airport (SMS), Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,038 miles (or 14,545 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 Fairbanks International Airport and Sainte Marie 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 Fairbanks International Airport and Sainte Marie Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | FAI / PAFA |
| Airport Name: | Fairbanks International Airport |
| Location: | Fairbanks, Alaska, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 64°48'53"N by 147°51'23"W |
| Area Served: | Fairbanks, Alaska |
| Operator/Owner: | State of Alaska DOT&PF |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 434 feet (132 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 4 |
| View all routes: | Routes from FAI |
| More Information: | FAI Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SMS / FMMS |
| Airport Name: | Sainte Marie Airport |
| Location: | Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar |
| GPS Coordinates: | 17°5'38"S by 49°48'56"E |
| Area Served: | Sainte Marie, Analanjirofo, Madagascar |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 7 feet (2 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SMS |
| More Information: | SMS Maps & Info |
Facts about Fairbanks International Airport (FAI):
- Pan Am eventually used Fairbanks as a stopover for transpacific service from New York and Seattle to Tokyo starting in September 1969.
- In September 2013 there were two incidents of vehicular trespass onto its taxiway and runways, by users unknowingly following Apple Map's errant directions to Fairbanks International Airport.
- Because of Fairbanks International Airport's relatively low elevation of 434 feet, planes can take off or land at Fairbanks International 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 Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) is Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), which is located 10,289 miles (16,558 kilometers) away in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
- The closest airport to Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) is Ladd Army Airfield (FBK), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) ENE of FAI.
- Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) has 4 runways.
- On October 11, 2009, the airport constructed a new terminal and demolished the old terminal which was built in 1948.
Facts about Sainte Marie Airport (SMS):
- Because of Sainte Marie Airport's relatively low elevation of 7 feet, planes can take off or land at Sainte Marie 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 Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) is Guerrero Negro Airport (GUB), which is located 11,161 miles (17,962 kilometers) away in Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
- Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) is Toamasino Airport (TMM), which is located 76 miles (122 kilometers) SSW of SMS.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 7.28 miles (11.71 km) ENE | Ladd Army Airfield (FBK) | Fairbanks / Fort Wainwright, Alaska, United States |     |
| 2 | 24.54 miles (39.49 km) ESE | Eielson Air Force Base (EIL) | Fairbanks, Alaska, United States | |
| 3 | 40.45 miles (65.10 km) WSW | Nenana Municipal Airport (ENN) | Nenana, Alaska, United States | |
| 4 | 49.82 miles (80.18 km) WNW | Minto Al Wright Airport (MNT) | Minto, Alaska, United States | |
| 5 | 81.20 miles (130.68 km) SSW | McKinley National Park Airport (MCL) | McKinley Park, Alaska, United States | |
| 6 | 81.77 miles (131.59 km) NW | Rampart Airport (RMP) | Rampart, Alaska, United States | |
| 7 | 82.65 miles (133.01 km) W | Manley Hot Springs Airport (MLY) | Manley Hot Springs, Alaska, United States | |
| 8 | 82.81 miles (133.27 km) SE | Delta Junction Airport (DJN) | Delta Junction, Alaska, United States | |
| 9 | 85.28 miles (137.25 km) SE | Allen Army Airfield (BIG) | Fort Greely, Delta Junction, Alaska, United States | |
| 10 | 89.90 miles (144.68 km) NNW | Stevens Village Airport (SVS) | Stevens Village, Alaska, United States | |
| 11 | 95.72 miles (154.05 km) NW | Five Mile Airport (FMC) | Five Mile, Alaska, United States | |
| 12 | 103.41 miles (166.43 km) ENE | Central Airport (CEM) | Central, Alaska, United States | |
| 13 | 104.99 miles (168.97 km) ENE | Circle Hot Springs Airport (CHP) | Circle Hot Springs, Alaska, United States | |
| 14 | 107.67 miles (173.28 km) N | Beaver Airport (WBQ) | Beaver, Alaska, United States | |
| 15 | 109.46 miles (176.15 km) SSW | Summit Airport (UMM) | Summit, Alaska, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,289.00 miles (16,558.49 km) S | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 2 | 10,268.99 miles (16,526.29 km) SSE | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 3 | 10,265.50 miles (16,520.68 km) S | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 4 | 10,233.40 miles (16,469.02 km) S | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 5 | 10,230.95 miles (16,465.07 km) SSE | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Cape Town, South Africa | |
| 6 | 10,133.37 miles (16,308.04 km) S | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 7 | 10,089.42 miles (16,237.30 km) S | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 8 | 10,019.05 miles (16,124.06 km) S | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 9 | 10,013.68 miles (16,115.42 km) S | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 10,008.87 miles (16,107.68 km) S | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 11 | 10,008.26 miles (16,106.69 km) S | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 12 | 10,005.72 miles (16,102.61 km) S | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 13 | 10,004.42 miles (16,100.51 km) S | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 14 | 9,986.04 miles (16,070.93 km) S | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 9,978.05 miles (16,058.08 km) S | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 75.51 miles (121.52 km) SSW | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 2 | 109.66 miles (176.48 km) NW | Mandritsara Airport (WMA) | Mandritsara, Madagascar | |
| 3 | 147.27 miles (237.02 km) W | Tsaratanana Airport (TTS) | Tsaratanana, Madagascar. | |
| 4 | 148.54 miles (239.05 km) NNE | Antsirabato Airport (ANM) | Antalaha, Madagascar | |
| 5 | 179.31 miles (288.56 km) NW | Port Bergé Airport (WPB) | Port Bergé, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 193.49 miles (311.40 km) SW | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 7 | 218.14 miles (351.06 km) NW | Analalava Airport (HVA) | Analalava, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 249.90 miles (402.17 km) WNW | Amborovy Airport (MJN) | Mahajanga, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 255.83 miles (411.71 km) NNW | Ambanja Airport (IVA) | Ambanja, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 272.99 miles (439.33 km) WSW | Tsiroanomandidy Airport (WTS) | Tsiroanomandidy, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 275.44 miles (443.27 km) NNW | Ambilobe Airport (AMB) | Ambilobe, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 279.38 miles (449.62 km) W | Ambatomainty Airport (AMY) | Ambatomainty, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 299.34 miles (481.74 km) SSW | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 302.75 miles (487.22 km) WNW | Soalala Airport (DWB) | Soalala, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 320.40 miles (515.63 km) WSW | Ankavandra Airport (JVA) | Ankavandra, Madagascar | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,160.95 miles (17,961.77 km) NW | Guerrero Negro Airport (GUB) | Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Mexico | |
| 2 | 11,121.21 miles (17,897.80 km) WNW | Ciudad Constitución Airport (CUA) | Ciudad Constitución, Baja California Sur, Mexico | |
| 3 | 11,112.23 miles (17,883.35 km) NW | Ensenada Airport (ESE) | Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 4 | 11,103.17 miles (17,868.77 km) NNW | Santa Cruz Island Airport (SZN) | Santa Barbara, California, United States | |
| 5 | 11,101.15 miles (17,865.52 km) NW | Bahía de los Ángeles Airport (BHL) | Bahía de los Ángeles, Baja California, México | |
| 6 | 11,093.48 miles (17,853.19 km) NNW | Catalina AirportBuffalo Springs Airport (CIB) | Avalon, California, United States | |
| 7 | 11,092.50 miles (17,851.61 km) NW | Naval Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach (NRS) | Imperial Beach, California, United States | |
| 8 | 11,089.23 miles (17,846.34 km) NW | NAS North Island (NZY) | San Diego, California, United States | |
| 9 | 11,088.31 miles (17,844.86 km) NW | Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) | Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 10 | 11,087.06 miles (17,842.84 km) NW | Brown Field Municipal Airport (SDM) | San Diego, California, United States | |
| 11 | 11,086.45 miles (17,841.87 km) NW | San Diego International Airport (SAN) | San Diego, California, United States | |
| 12 | 11,082.62 miles (17,835.71 km) NNW | Lompoc Airport (LPC) | Lompoc, California, United States | |
| 13 | 11,081.44 miles (17,833.81 km) WNW | Loreto International Airport (LTO) | Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico | |
| 14 | 11,081.30 miles (17,833.57 km) NNW | Vandenberg Air Force Base (VBG) | Lompoc, California, United States | |
| 15 | 11,080.22 miles (17,831.85 km) NW | Montgomery Field (MYF) | San Diego, California, United States | |