Nonstop flight route between Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(22°48'35"S by 43°15'2"W)
Arrival Airport:
(28°44'26"S by 32°5'30"E)
Distance from GIG to RCB:
4,628.40 miles (7,448.67 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- GIG Airport Information
- RCB Airport Information
- Facts about GIG
- Facts about RCB
- Map of Nearest Airports to GIG
- List of Nearest Airports to GIG
- Map of Furthest Airports from GIG
- List of Furthest Airports from GIG
- Map of Nearest Airports to RCB
- List of Nearest Airports to RCB
- Map of Furthest Airports from RCB
- List of Furthest Airports from RCB
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Rio de Janeiro/Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Richards Bay Airport (RCB), Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,628 miles (or 7,449 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 Rio de Janeiro/Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport and Richards Bay 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 Rio de Janeiro/Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport and Richards Bay Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | GIG / SBGL |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| GPS Coordinates: | 22°48'35"S by 43°15'2"W |
| Area Served: | Rio de Janeiro |
| Operator/Owner: | Aeroporto Rio de Janeiro and Infraero |
| Airport Type: | Public/Military |
| Elevation: | 28 feet (9 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from GIG |
| More Information: | GIG Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | RCB / FARB |
| Airport Name: | Richards Bay Airport |
| Location: | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 28°44'26"S by 32°5'30"E |
| Operator/Owner: | uMhlathuze Local Municipality |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 109 feet (33 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from RCB |
| More Information: | RCB Maps & Info |
Facts about Rio de Janeiro/Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG):
- Rio de Janeiro/Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) has 2 runways.
- Some of its facilities are shared with the Galeão Air Force Base of the Brazilian Air Force.
- Because of Rio de Janeiro/Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport's relatively low elevation of 28 feet, planes can take off or land at Rio de Janeiro/Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim 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.
- In 1985 the airport lost the title of the country's major international airport to São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport.
- In addition to being known as "Rio de Janeiro/Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport", another name for GIG is "Aeroporto Internacional do Rio de Janeiro/Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim".
- The history of the airport begins on May 10, 1923 when a School of Naval Aviation was established near Galeão beach on Governador Island.
- The furthest airport from Rio de Janeiro/Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) is Central Field (Iwo Jima)Motoyama No. 2Airfield No. 2 (IWO), which is nearly antipodal to Rio de Janeiro/Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (meaning Rio de Janeiro/Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Central Field (Iwo Jima)Motoyama No. 2Airfield No. 2), and is located 12,117 miles (19,500 kilometers) away in Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands, Japan.
- One of the two TAP Maintenance & Engineering centers in Brazil is located at Galeão International Airport.
- The closest airport to Rio de Janeiro/Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) is Santos Dumont Airport (SDU), which is located only 9 miles (14 kilometers) SE of GIG.
- On February 1, 1952 the new passenger terminal was opened and remained in use with enlargements until 1977.
- Rio de Janeiro/Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport handled 17,115,368 passengers last year.
Facts about Richards Bay Airport (RCB):
- The furthest airport from Richards Bay Airport (RCB) is Hana Airport (HNM), which is located 11,689 miles (18,812 kilometers) away in Hana, Hawaii, United States.
- The closest airport to Richards Bay Airport (RCB) is Hluhluwe Airport (HLW), which is located 52 miles (83 kilometers) NNE of RCB.
- Richards Bay Airport (RCB) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of Richards Bay Airport's relatively low elevation of 109 feet, planes can take off or land at Richards Bay 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.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 8.90 miles (14.33 km) SE | Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |     |
| 2 | 31.00 miles (49.90 km) WSW | Santa Cruz Air Force Base (SNZ) | Santa Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| 3 | 70.79 miles (113.93 km) N | Francisco Álvares de Assis Airport (JDF) | Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil | |
| 4 | 75.46 miles (121.44 km) E | Cabo Frio International Airport (CFB) | Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| 5 | 81.91 miles (131.82 km) E | Umberto Modiano Airport (BZC) | Búzios, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| 6 | 89.75 miles (144.43 km) N | Presidente Itamar Franco Airport (IZA) | Juiz de Fora, Brazil | |
| 7 | 100.12 miles (161.13 km) ENE | Benedito Lacerda Airport (MEA) | Macaé, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| 8 | 145.96 miles (234.89 km) ENE | Campos–Bartolomeu Lysandro Airport (CAW) | Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| 9 | 165.34 miles (266.08 km) WNW | Major-Brigadeiro Trompowsky Airport (VAG) | Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil | |
| 10 | 169.14 miles (272.20 km) W | São José dos Campos-Professor Urbano Ernesto Stumpf Airport (SJK) | São José dos Campos, Brazil | |
| 11 | 189.99 miles (305.76 km) NE | Raimundo de Andrade Airport (CDI) | Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Brazil | |
| 12 | 209.27 miles (336.79 km) WSW | São Paulo/Guarulhos–Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport (GRU) | Guarulhos (near São Paulo), São Paulo (state), Brazil | |
| 13 | 209.29 miles (336.81 km) NNW | Belo Horizonte/Pampulha–Carlos Drummond de Andrade Airport (PLU) | Belo Horizonte, Brazil | |
| 14 | 209.30 miles (336.84 km) NNW | Brigadeiro Cabral Airport (DIQ) | Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil | |
| 15 | 223.48 miles (359.66 km) WSW | São Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH) | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,117.05 miles (19,500.46 km) WNW | Central Field (Iwo Jima)Motoyama No. 2Airfield No. 2 (IWO) | Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands, Japan | |
| 2 | 12,032.76 miles (19,364.80 km) ENE | Minami-Daito Airport (MMD) | Minami Daito, Okinawa, Japan | |
| 3 | 12,032.69 miles (19,364.69 km) ENE | Kitadaito Airport (KTD) | Kitadaito, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan | |
| 4 | 11,866.27 miles (19,096.87 km) NE | Kikai Airport (KKX) | Kikaiga Shima, Kikai-Shima Island, Japan | |
| 5 | 11,851.38 miles (19,072.90 km) NE | Amami Airport (ASJ) | Amami Island, Japan | |
| 6 | 11,822.02 miles (19,025.64 km) ENE | Kadena Air Base 嘉手納飛行場 Kadena Hikōjō (DNA) | Okinawa Prefecture, Japan | |
| 7 | 11,818.71 miles (19,020.31 km) ENE | Naha Airport (OKA) | Okinawa, Japan | |
| 8 | 11,813.15 miles (19,011.38 km) ENE | Iejima Airport (IEJ) | Iejima, Japan | |
| 9 | 11,798.78 miles (18,988.25 km) ENE | Kerama Airport (KJP) | Kerama Islands, Okinawa, Japan | |
| 10 | 11,792.47 miles (18,978.10 km) NE | Yakushima Airport (KUM) | Yakushima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan | |
| 11 | 11,785.46 miles (18,966.81 km) ENE | Aguni Airport (AGJ) | Aguni, Japan | |
| 12 | 11,731.17 miles (18,879.45 km) NNE | Miyazaki Airport (KMI) | Miyazaki, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan | |
| 13 | 11,713.79 miles (18,851.47 km) NNE | Kagoshima Airport (KOJ) | Kagoshima, Japan | |
| 14 | 11,701.19 miles (18,831.20 km) NNW | Hachijojima Airport (HAC) | Hachijojima (Hachijo Jima), Tokyo, Japan | |
| 15 | 11,700.19 miles (18,829.58 km) ENE | Miyako Airport (MMY) | Miyakojima, Okinawa, Japan | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 51.82 miles (83.40 km) NNE | Hluhluwe Airport (HLW) | Hluhluwe, South Africa | |
| 2 | 84.75 miles (136.40 km) SW | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 3 | 119.80 miles (192.80 km) WSW | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 4 | 142.22 miles (228.88 km) W | Ladysmith Airport (LAY) | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 5 | 160.19 miles (257.81 km) NNW | Matsapha Airport (MTS) | Manzini, Swaziland | |
| 6 | 180.06 miles (289.77 km) SW | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 7 | 186.21 miles (299.68 km) WSW | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 8 | 197.06 miles (317.14 km) N | Maputo International Airport (MPM) | Maputo, Mozambique | |
| 9 | 221.74 miles (356.85 km) WSW | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 235.81 miles (379.50 km) WSW | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 11 | 239.78 miles (385.89 km) NNW | Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) | Nelspruit, South Africa | |
| 12 | 244.68 miles (393.77 km) W | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 13 | 254.51 miles (409.59 km) WSW | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 14 | 273.13 miles (439.56 km) N | Mala Mala Airport (AAM) | Mala Mala, South Africa | |
| 15 | 274.02 miles (441.00 km) WNW | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,688.97 miles (18,811.52 km) NE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,676.26 miles (18,791.08 km) NE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,668.75 miles (18,778.99 km) NE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,668.60 miles (18,778.74 km) NE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,667.34 miles (18,776.72 km) NE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,667.27 miles (18,776.61 km) NE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,660.70 miles (18,766.03 km) NE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,658.80 miles (18,762.97 km) NE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,649.90 miles (18,748.65 km) NE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,647.45 miles (18,744.70 km) NE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,631.35 miles (18,718.80 km) NE | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,629.30 miles (18,715.50 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,627.50 miles (18,712.60 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,627.50 miles (18,712.60 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,625.76 miles (18,709.81 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |