Nonstop flight route between Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States and Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, United Kingdom:
Departure Airport:
(42°52'50"N by 85°31'22"W)
Arrival Airport:
(58°57'29"N by 2°54'2"W)
Distance from GRR to KOI:
3,512.41 miles (5,652.65 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- GRR Airport Information
- KOI Airport Information
- Facts about GRR
- Facts about KOI
- Map of Nearest Airports to GRR
- List of Nearest Airports to GRR
- Map of Furthest Airports from GRR
- List of Furthest Airports from GRR
- Map of Nearest Airports to KOI
- List of Nearest Airports to KOI
- Map of Furthest Airports from KOI
- List of Furthest Airports from KOI
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR), Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States and Kirkwall Airport (KOI), Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, United Kingdom would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,512 miles (or 5,653 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 Gerald R. Ford International Airport and Kirkwall 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 Gerald R. Ford International Airport and Kirkwall Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | GRR / KGRR |
| Airport Name: | Gerald R. Ford International Airport |
| Location: | Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 42°52'50"N by 85°31'22"W |
| Area Served: | Grand Rapids, Michigan |
| Operator/Owner: | Kent County |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 794 feet (242 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 3 |
| View all routes: | Routes from GRR |
| More Information: | GRR Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | KOI / EGPA |
| Airport Name: | Kirkwall Airport |
| Location: | Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, United Kingdom |
| GPS Coordinates: | 58°57'29"N by 2°54'2"W |
| Area Served: | Mainland, Orkney |
| Operator/Owner: | Highlands and Islands Airports Limited |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 58 feet (18 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from KOI |
| More Information: | KOI Maps & Info |
Facts about Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR):
- Because of Gerald R. Ford International Airport's relatively low elevation of 794 feet, planes can take off or land at Gerald R. Ford 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 closest airport to Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) is Park Township Airport (HLM), which is located 33 miles (53 kilometers) W of GRR.
- In 1959 construction began on the present airport in Cascade Township, several miles east of the original one.
- The furthest airport from Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,165 miles (17,969 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- The airport is the largest commercial airport in the West Michigan region and is the second largest airport in Michigan after Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.
- Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) has 3 runways.
- In January 2012 Southwest Airlines announced it would continue Airtran flights to Grand Rapids and eventually transfer them to Southwest.
- When new baggage screening regulations were introduced by the Transportation Security Administration in 2002, the airport was one of the first in the nation to conduct trials on the new screening machines.
- The airport has two aircraft spotter locations.
Facts about Kirkwall Airport (KOI):
- The furthest airport from Kirkwall Airport (KOI) is Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS), which is located 11,525 miles (18,548 kilometers) away in Stewart Island, New Zealand.
- Because of Kirkwall Airport's relatively low elevation of 58 feet, planes can take off or land at Kirkwall 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 Kirkwall Airport (KOI) is Stronsay Airport (SOY), which is located only 16 miles (26 kilometers) NE of KOI.
- Kirkwall Airport (KOI) has 2 runways.
- Kirkwall Airport handled 145,897 passengers last year.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 32.91 miles (52.96 km) W | Park Township Airport (HLM) | Holland, Michigan, United States |     |
| 2 | 41.10 miles (66.15 km) WNW | Muskegon County Airport (MKG) | Muskegon, Michigan, United States | |
| 3 | 42.05 miles (67.67 km) SSE | W. K. Kellogg Airport (BTL) | Battle Creek, Michigan, United States | |
| 4 | 44.65 miles (71.85 km) S | Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO) | Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, Michigan, United States | |
| 5 | 47.98 miles (77.22 km) E | Capital Region International Airport (LAN) | Lansing, Michigan, United States | |
| 6 | 51.99 miles (83.67 km) NE | Gratiot Community Airport (AMN) | Alma, Michigan, United States | |
| 7 | 58.16 miles (93.60 km) N | Roben-Hood Airport (WBR) | Big Rapids, Michigan, United States | |
| 8 | 64.67 miles (104.07 km) NE | Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport (MOP) | Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States | |
| 9 | 68.98 miles (111.01 km) SE | Jackson County Airport (JXN) | Jackson, Michigan, United States | |
| 10 | 69.41 miles (111.71 km) SW | Southwest Michigan Regional Airport (BEH) | Benton Harbor, Michigan, United States | |
| 11 | 70.42 miles (113.33 km) N | Nartron Field (RCT) | Reed City, Michigan, United States | |
| 12 | 80.33 miles (129.28 km) SSW | Jerry Tyler Memorial Airport (NLE) | Niles, Michigan, United States | |
| 13 | 83.92 miles (135.05 km) SSW | Elkhart Municipal Airport (EKI) | Elkhart, Indiana, United States | |
| 14 | 85.50 miles (137.60 km) ENE | MBS International Airport (MBS) | Midland/Bay City/Saginaw, Michigan, United States | |
| 15 | 86.94 miles (139.91 km) NNW | Mason County Airport (LDM) | Ludington, Michigan, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,165.30 miles (17,968.77 km) WSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,141.54 miles (17,930.52 km) WSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,129.20 miles (17,910.67 km) WSW | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,116.13 miles (17,889.63 km) WSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,073.67 miles (17,821.31 km) WSW | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,064.64 miles (17,806.77 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,053.03 miles (17,788.09 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,042.31 miles (17,770.83 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,035.28 miles (17,759.52 km) WSW | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,008.73 miles (17,716.78 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,950.27 miles (17,622.70 km) SW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,914.20 miles (17,564.66 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,912.41 miles (17,561.78 km) SW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,900.16 miles (17,542.07 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,843.36 miles (17,450.65 km) SW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 16.45 miles (26.47 km) NE | Stronsay Airport (SOY) | Stronsay, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 2 | 16.70 miles (26.87 km) NNE | Eday Airport (EOI) | Eday, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 3 | 23.23 miles (37.39 km) NNE | Sanday Airport (NDY) | Sanday, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 4 | 35.17 miles (56.61 km) SSW | Wick Airport (WIC) | Wick, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 5 | 60.06 miles (96.65 km) NE | Fair Isle Airport (FIE) | Fair Isle, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 6 | 85.20 miles (137.11 km) NE | Sumburgh Airport (LSI) | Shetland, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 7 | 88.01 miles (141.64 km) S | RAF Lossiemouth (LMO) | Lossiemouth, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 8 | 93.54 miles (150.53 km) SSW | Kinloss Barracks (FSS) | Forres, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 9 | 103.09 miles (165.91 km) NNE | Tingwall Airport (LWK) | Lerwick, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 10 | 106.32 miles (171.11 km) SSW | Inverness Airport (INV) | Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 11 | 116.23 miles (187.05 km) NNE | Scatsta Airport (SCS) | Shetland Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 12 | 123.98 miles (199.53 km) SSE | Aberdeen International Airport (ABZ) | Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 13 | 133.75 miles (215.25 km) WSW | Stornoway Airport (SYY) | Stornoway, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 14 | 173.18 miles (278.70 km) S | Dundee Airport (DND) | Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 15 | 174.78 miles (281.28 km) S | Perth Airport (PSL) | Perth, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,525.13 miles (18,547.85 km) SSE | Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS) | Stewart Island, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,496.94 miles (18,502.49 km) SSE | Invercargill Airport (IVC) | Invercargill, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,491.97 miles (18,494.48 km) SSE | Dunedin International Airport (DUD) | Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,437.92 miles (18,407.51 km) SSE | Oamaru Airport (OAM) | Oamaru, North Otago, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,433.55 miles (18,400.47 km) SSE | Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) | Alexandra, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,412.12 miles (18,365.98 km) SSE | Queenstown Airport (ZQN) | Queenstown, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,399.34 miles (18,345.41 km) SSE | Wanaka Airport (WKA) | Wanaka, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,394.33 miles (18,337.35 km) SSE | Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (TIU) | Timaru, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,377.14 miles (18,309.69 km) SSE | Milford Sound Airport (MFN) | Milford Sound, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,372.65 miles (18,302.46 km) SSE | Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) | Ashburton, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,355.77 miles (18,275.30 km) SSE | Glentanner Aerodrome (GTN) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,355.13 miles (18,274.27 km) SSW | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,350.53 miles (18,266.86 km) SSE | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,346.46 miles (18,260.31 km) SSE | Mount Cook Airport (MON) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,324.63 miles (18,225.18 km) SSE | Fox Glacier Aerodrome (FGL) | Fox Glacier, New Zealand | |