Nonstop flight route between Fairford, England, United Kingdom and Alula, Somalia:
Departure Airport:
(51°40'55"N by 1°47'24"W)
Arrival Airport:
(11°57'30"N by 50°44'53"E)
Distance from FFD to ALU:
4,000.02 miles (6,437.39 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- FFD Airport Information
- ALU Airport Information
- Facts about FFD
- Facts about ALU
- Map of Nearest Airports to FFD
- List of Nearest Airports to FFD
- Map of Furthest Airports from FFD
- List of Furthest Airports from FFD
- Map of Nearest Airports to ALU
- List of Nearest Airports to ALU
- Map of Furthest Airports from ALU
- List of Furthest Airports from ALU
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between RAF Fairford (FFD), Fairford, England, United Kingdom and Alula Airport (ALU), Alula, Somalia would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,000 miles (or 6,437 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 RAF Fairford and Alula 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 RAF Fairford and Alula Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | FFD / EGVA |
| Airport Name: | RAF Fairford |
| Location: | Fairford, England, United Kingdom |
| GPS Coordinates: | 51°40'55"N by 1°47'24"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Ministry of Defence |
| View all routes: | Routes from FFD |
| More Information: | FFD Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | ALU / HCMA |
| Airport Name: | Alula Airport |
| Location: | Alula, Somalia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 11°57'30"N by 50°44'53"E |
| Area Served: | Alula, Somalia |
| Operator/Owner: | Puntland Ministry for Civil Aviation and Airports |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 6 feet (2 meters) |
| View all routes: | Routes from ALU |
| More Information: | ALU Maps & Info |
Facts about RAF Fairford (FFD):
- RAF Fairford was the only TransOceanic Abort Landing site for NASA's Space Shuttle in the UK.
- KC-135 and KC-10 tankers deployed to Fairford supported Operation El Dorado Canyon against Libya in 1986.
- The closest airport to RAF Fairford (FFD) is RAF Brize Norton (BZZ), which is located only 10 miles (16 kilometers) ENE of FFD.
- In the early years of the Cold War the British and American governments reached an agreement under which elements of the USAF Strategic Air Command would be based in the UK.
- The furthest airport from RAF Fairford (FFD) is Dunedin International Airport (DUD), which is located 11,898 miles (19,148 kilometers) away in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.
Facts about Alula Airport (ALU):
- The closest airport to Alula Airport (ALU) is Candala Airport (CXN), which is located 65 miles (105 kilometers) WSW of ALU.
- Because of Alula Airport's relatively low elevation of 6 feet, planes can take off or land at Alula 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 Alula Airport (ALU) is Pukarua Airport (PUK), which is located 11,759 miles (18,924 kilometers) away in Pukarua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10.00 miles (16.09 km) ENE | RAF Brize Norton (BZZ) | Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom |     |
| 2 | 15.02 miles (24.17 km) SW | RAF Lyneham (LYE) | Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 3 | 22.77 miles (36.64 km) ENE | Oxford Airport (OXF) | Oxford, England, United Kingdom | |
| 4 | 30.10 miles (48.45 km) E | RAF Benson (BEX) | Benson, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 5 | 36.28 miles (58.38 km) WSW | Bristol Filton Airport (FZO) | Filton, Bristol, United Kingdom | |
| 6 | 42.33 miles (68.12 km) E | RAF High Wycombe (HYC) | High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 7 | 44.98 miles (72.38 km) WSW | Bristol Airport (BRS) | Bristol, England, United Kingdom | |
| 8 | 47.23 miles (76.02 km) SE | Lasham Airfield (QLA) | Lasham, England, United Kingdom | |
| 9 | 47.50 miles (76.44 km) ESE | Blackbushe Airport (BBS) | Yateley, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 10 | 47.84 miles (76.99 km) SE | RAF Odiham (ODH) | Odiham, United Kingdom | |
| 11 | 49.48 miles (79.64 km) NNE | Coventry Airport (CVT) | Coventry, West Midlands, England, United Kingdom | |
| 12 | 50.42 miles (81.15 km) ENE | Milton Keynes Airport (KYN) | Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom | |
| 13 | 51.85 miles (83.45 km) ESE | Farnborough Airport (FAB) | Farnborough, United Kingdom | |
| 14 | 53.35 miles (85.85 km) N | Birmingham Airport (BHX) | Birmingham, England, United Kingdom | |
| 15 | 53.92 miles (86.78 km) SSE | Southampton Airport (SOU) | Eastleigh (near Southampton), England, United Kingdom | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,897.99 miles (19,147.91 km) SE | Dunedin International Airport (DUD) | Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,874.86 miles (19,110.69 km) ESE | Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS) | Stewart Island, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,869.65 miles (19,102.31 km) SE | Oamaru Airport (OAM) | Oamaru, North Otago, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,860.18 miles (19,087.07 km) SE | Invercargill Airport (IVC) | Invercargill, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,839.51 miles (19,053.79 km) SSW | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,834.41 miles (19,045.60 km) SE | Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) | Alexandra, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,833.87 miles (19,044.72 km) SE | Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (TIU) | Timaru, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,822.95 miles (19,027.15 km) SSE | Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) | Ashburton, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,812.41 miles (19,010.18 km) SSE | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,804.61 miles (18,997.63 km) SE | Queenstown Airport (ZQN) | Queenstown, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,803.98 miles (18,996.62 km) SE | Wanaka Airport (WKA) | Wanaka, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,782.42 miles (18,961.92 km) SE | Glentanner Aerodrome (GTN) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,774.40 miles (18,949.02 km) SE | Mount Cook Airport (MON) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,761.76 miles (18,928.67 km) SSE | Kaikoura Aerodrome (KBZ) | Kaikoura, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,760.44 miles (18,926.54 km) SE | Milford Sound Airport (MFN) | Milford Sound, New Zealand | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 65.24 miles (104.99 km) WSW | Candala Airport (CXN) | Candala, Somalia | |
| 2 | 118.02 miles (189.93 km) WSW | Bender Qassim International Airport (BSA) | Boosaaso, Somalia | |
| 3 | 208.39 miles (335.37 km) NNW | Riyan Airport (MKX) | Mukalla, Yemen | |
| 4 | 245.16 miles (394.55 km) WSW | Erigavo Airport (ERA) | Erigavo, Somalia | |
| 5 | 306.49 miles (493.25 km) NNW | Sayun AirportSeiyun Airport (GXF) | Seiyun, Yemen | |
| 6 | 307.79 miles (495.35 km) NNE | Al Ghaydha Airport (AAY) | Al Ghaydah, Yemen | |
| 7 | 318.83 miles (513.10 km) NW | Ataq Airport (AXK) | Ataq, Yemen | |
| 8 | 390.09 miles (627.79 km) WSW | Burao Airport (BUO) | Burao, Somalia | |
| 9 | 390.22 miles (628.00 km) WNW | Beihan Airport (BHN) | Beihan, Yemen | |
| 10 | 390.62 miles (628.63 km) W | Aden International Airport (ADE) | Aden, Yemen | |
| 11 | 408.28 miles (657.06 km) WSW | Berbera Airport (BBO) | Berbera, Somalia | |
| 12 | 416.18 miles (669.77 km) NNE | Salalah Airport (SLL) | Salalah, Oman | |
| 13 | 422.34 miles (679.69 km) SSW | Abdullahi Yusuf International Airport (GLK) | Galcaio, Somalia | |
| 14 | 460.95 miles (741.82 km) WNW | Ta'izz International Airport (TAI) | Ta'izz, Yemen | |
| 15 | 481.07 miles (774.21 km) SSW | Obbia Airport (CMO) | Obbia, Somalia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,758.86 miles (18,924.00 km) SE | Pukarua Airport (PUK) | Pukarua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 2 | 11,757.45 miles (18,921.73 km) ESE | Atuona Airport (AUQ) | Atuona, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 3 | 11,626.36 miles (18,710.77 km) SE | Nukutavake Airport (NUK) | Nukutavake, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 4 | 11,612.28 miles (18,688.11 km) ESE | Fangatau Airport (FGU) | Fangatau, French Polynesia | |
| 5 | 11,583.49 miles (18,641.77 km) SSE | Totegegie Airport (GMR) | Mangareva, Gambier Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 6 | 11,570.24 miles (18,620.44 km) SE | Tureira Airport (ZTA) | Tureia, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 7 | 11,549.81 miles (18,587.57 km) ESE | Hao Airport (HOI) | Hao, Tuamotu Island, French Polynesia | |
| 8 | 11,506.59 miles (18,518.01 km) ESE | Raroia Airport (RRR) | Raroia, French Polynesia | |
| 9 | 11,421.16 miles (18,380.53 km) ESE | Makemo Airport (MKP) | Makemo, French Polynesia | |
| 10 | 11,301.67 miles (18,188.22 km) ESE | Fakarava Airport (FAV) | Fakarava, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 11 | 11,292.82 miles (18,173.99 km) E | Manihi Airport (XMH) | Manihi, French Polynesia | |
| 12 | 11,288.49 miles (18,167.02 km) ESE | Anaa Airport (AAA) | Anaa, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 13 | 11,280.53 miles (18,154.20 km) E | Ahe Airport (AHE) | Ahe, French Polynesia | |
| 14 | 11,258.76 miles (18,119.17 km) ESE | Apataki Airport (APK) | Apataki, French Polynesia | |
| 15 | 11,248.92 miles (18,103.33 km) ESE | Arutua Airport (AXR) | Arutua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |