Nonstop flight route between Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States and Pietermaritzburg, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(47°56'57"N by 97°10'33"W)
Arrival Airport:
(29°38'48"S by 30°23'53"E)
Distance from GFK to PZB:
9,413.42 miles (15,149.39 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- GFK Airport Information
- PZB Airport Information
- Facts about GFK
- Facts about PZB
- Map of Nearest Airports to GFK
- List of Nearest Airports to GFK
- Map of Furthest Airports from GFK
- List of Furthest Airports from GFK
- Map of Nearest Airports to PZB
- List of Nearest Airports to PZB
- Map of Furthest Airports from PZB
- List of Furthest Airports from PZB
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Grand Forks International Airport (GFK), Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States and Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB), Pietermaritzburg, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,413 miles (or 15,149 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 Grand Forks International Airport and Pietermaritzburg 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 Grand Forks International Airport and Pietermaritzburg Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | GFK / KGFK |
| Airport Name: | Grand Forks International Airport |
| Location: | Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 47°56'57"N by 97°10'33"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Grand Forks Regional Airport Authority |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 845 feet (258 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 4 |
| View all routes: | Routes from GFK |
| More Information: | GFK Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | PZB / FAPM |
| Airport Name: | Pietermaritzburg Airport |
| Location: | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 29°38'48"S by 30°23'53"E |
| Area Served: | Pietermaritzburg |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 2423 feet (739 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PZB |
| More Information: | PZB Maps & Info |
Facts about Grand Forks International Airport (GFK):
- Grand Forks International Airport (GFK) has 4 runways.
- The furthest airport from Grand Forks International Airport (GFK) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 10,514 miles (16,921 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- A unique attribute of KGFK is that it is the University of North Dakota’s Aerospace program.
- Because of Grand Forks International Airport's relatively low elevation of 845 feet, planes can take off or land at Grand Forks 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.
- On October 3, 2012, United Airlines started flights between Denver, CO and Grand Forks, but on September 10, 2013 they announced they would end service on December 3, 2013 citing low loads.
- KGFK is a non-hub, primary commercial service airport.
- The closest airport to Grand Forks International Airport (GFK) is Grand Forks Air Force Base (RDR), which is located only 10 miles (17 kilometers) W of GFK.
- The consulting group recommended that a brand new passenger terminal would the best solution to the current terminal's problems.
- Most operations at GFK is from the University of North Dakota.
- In the mid-2000s, discussion began of upgrading or totally replacing the terminal as it has structural and safety problems and leaves little to no room for expansion.
Facts about Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB):
- The closest airport to Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) is King Shaka International (DUR), which is located 43 miles (69 kilometers) E of PZB.
- The furthest airport from Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) is Hana Airport (HNM), which is located 11,706 miles (18,839 kilometers) away in Hana, Hawaii, United States.
- Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) currently has only 1 runway.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10.44 miles (16.81 km) W | Grand Forks Air Force Base (RDR) | Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States |     |
| 2 | 26.75 miles (43.06 km) ESE | Crookston Municipal Airport (CKN) | Crookston, Minnesota, United States | |
| 3 | 46.51 miles (74.86 km) E | Thief River Falls Regional Airport (TVF) | Thief River Falls, Minnesota, United States | |
| 4 | 68.70 miles (110.56 km) N | Pembina Municipal Airport (PMB) | Pembina, North Dakota, United States | |
| 5 | 73.04 miles (117.54 km) SSE | Hector International Airport (FAR) | Fargo, North Dakota, United States | |
| 6 | 80.84 miles (130.11 km) W | Devils Lake Regional Airport (DVL) | Devils Lake, North Dakota, United States | |
| 7 | 98.38 miles (158.33 km) SE | Detroit Lakes Airport (DTL) | Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, United States | |
| 8 | 99.44 miles (160.04 km) SW | Jamestown Regional Airport (JMS) | Jamestown, North Dakota, United States | |
| 9 | 108.24 miles (174.20 km) NE | Warroad International Memorial Airport (RRT) | Warroad, Minnesota, United States | |
| 10 | 108.48 miles (174.57 km) ESE | Bemidji Regional Airport (BJI) | Bemidji, Minnesota, United States | |
| 11 | 120.80 miles (194.41 km) SSE | Harry Stern Airport (WAH) | Wahpeton, North Dakota, United States | |
| 12 | 124.61 miles (200.53 km) SSE | Fergus Falls Municipal Airport (FFM) | Fergus Falls, Minnesota, United States | |
| 13 | 129.47 miles (208.36 km) ENE | Baudette International Airport (BDE) | Baudette, Minnesota, United States | |
| 14 | 135.51 miles (218.08 km) N | Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG) | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | |
| 15 | 143.90 miles (231.59 km) NNW | Portage la Prairie/Southport Airport (YPG) | Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,514.00 miles (16,920.60 km) WSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 10,490.01 miles (16,881.99 km) WSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 10,482.83 miles (16,870.43 km) WSW | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 10,464.03 miles (16,840.19 km) WSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,437.32 miles (16,797.20 km) WSW | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,407.24 miles (16,748.79 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,396.68 miles (16,731.79 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,390.85 miles (16,722.41 km) WSW | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,385.65 miles (16,714.05 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,346.75 miles (16,651.44 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,286.61 miles (16,554.65 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,251.85 miles (16,498.71 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,248.69 miles (16,493.62 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,236.73 miles (16,474.37 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,205.75 miles (16,424.51 km) SE | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 42.69 miles (68.70 km) E | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 2 | 83.35 miles (134.14 km) NNW | Ladysmith Airport (LAY) | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 3 | 83.63 miles (134.59 km) WNW | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 4 | 83.86 miles (134.96 km) S | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 5 | 105.88 miles (170.39 km) W | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 6 | 119.80 miles (192.80 km) ENE | Richards Bay Airport (RCB) | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 7 | 122.75 miles (197.54 km) W | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 8 | 140.90 miles (226.76 km) W | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 9 | 151.59 miles (243.96 km) WNW | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 160.36 miles (258.08 km) NE | Hluhluwe Airport (HLW) | Hluhluwe, South Africa | |
| 11 | 166.52 miles (267.98 km) SW | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 12 | 171.51 miles (276.02 km) W | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 13 | 189.60 miles (305.13 km) W | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 14 | 222.43 miles (357.96 km) NNE | Matsapha Airport (MTS) | Manzini, Swaziland | |
| 15 | 248.95 miles (400.65 km) NNW | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,705.97 miles (18,838.89 km) NE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,697.37 miles (18,825.04 km) NE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,694.77 miles (18,820.85 km) NE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,692.21 miles (18,816.75 km) NE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,686.79 miles (18,808.03 km) NE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,679.67 miles (18,796.55 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,671.84 miles (18,783.96 km) NE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,670.76 miles (18,782.22 km) NNE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,669.82 miles (18,780.71 km) NNE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,666.25 miles (18,774.96 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,664.41 miles (18,772.00 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,662.49 miles (18,768.91 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,662.49 miles (18,768.91 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,658.50 miles (18,762.49 km) NNE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,655.71 miles (18,757.99 km) NE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |