Nonstop flight route between Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States and Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom:
Departure Airport:
(42°52'50"N by 85°31'22"W)
Arrival Airport:
(51°36'19"N by 4°4'4"W)
Distance from GRR to SWS:
3,666.25 miles (5,900.25 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- GRR Airport Information
- SWS Airport Information
- Facts about GRR
- Facts about SWS
- 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 SWS
- List of Nearest Airports to SWS
- Map of Furthest Airports from SWS
- List of Furthest Airports from SWS
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR), Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States and Swansea Airport (SWS), Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,666 miles (or 5,900 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 Swansea 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 Swansea 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: | SWS / EGFH |
| Airport Name: | Swansea Airport |
| Location: | Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom |
| GPS Coordinates: | 51°36'19"N by 4°4'4"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Swansea Airport Ltd. |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 299 feet (91 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SWS |
| More Information: | SWS Maps & Info |
Facts about Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR):
- The first scheduled air service in the United States was between Grand Rapids and Detroit on a Ford-Stout monoplane named Miss Grand Rapids, which started July 26, 1926.
- In April 2012 Frontier Airlines ended flights from Grand Rapids to Milwaukee.
- 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.
- 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 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 closest airport to Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) is Park Township Airport (HLM), which is located 33 miles (53 kilometers) W of GRR.
- The airport is at the intersection of 44th Street and Patterson Avenue.
- Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) has 3 runways.
- An outdoor viewing area on Kraft Avenue north of 52nd Street has picnic tables, litter barrels, and a portable toilet.
Facts about Swansea Airport (SWS):
- Because of Swansea Airport's relatively low elevation of 299 feet, planes can take off or land at Swansea 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.
- Swansea Airport (SWS) has 2 runways.
- There has been widespread local opposition against the idea of further development of the airport.
- De Havilland Aviation were based at the airport from 1996 to 2002 restoring former de Havilland military and naval aircraft to flying condition, including Vampires, Venom, Sea Devon and Sea Vixen.
- The fire brigade at Swansea is CAT 1, and able to do CAT 2 on request.
- The furthest airport from Swansea Airport (SWS) is Dunedin International Airport (DUD), which is located 11,966 miles (19,257 kilometers) away in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.
- The closest airport to Swansea Airport (SWS) is MoD St Athan (DGX), which is located 31 miles (49 kilometers) ESE of SWS.
| 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 | 30.51 miles (49.10 km) ESE | MoD St Athan (DGX) | St Athan, Wales, United Kingdom | |
| 2 | 34.33 miles (55.25 km) ESE | Cardiff Airport (CWL) | Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom | |
| 3 | 41.35 miles (66.55 km) WNW | Haverfordwest Aerodrome (HAW) | Haverfordwest, Wales, United Kingdom | |
| 4 | 60.01 miles (96.58 km) ESE | Bristol Airport (BRS) | Bristol, England, United Kingdom | |
| 5 | 63.60 miles (102.35 km) E | Bristol Filton Airport (FZO) | Filton, Bristol, United Kingdom | |
| 6 | 66.50 miles (107.03 km) SSE | Exeter International Airport (EXT) | Exeter, United Kingdom | |
| 7 | 81.72 miles (131.51 km) S | Plymouth City Airport (PLH) | Plymouth, United Kingdom | |
| 8 | 89.38 miles (143.85 km) E | RAF Lyneham (LYE) | Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 9 | 89.99 miles (144.82 km) SSW | Newquay Cornwall Airport (NQY) | Newquay, England, United Kingdom | |
| 10 | 97.80 miles (157.40 km) E | RAF Fairford (FFD) | Fairford, England, United Kingdom | |
| 11 | 106.89 miles (172.03 km) E | RAF Brize Norton (BZZ) | Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| 12 | 111.96 miles (180.18 km) ESE | Bournemouth Airport (BOH) | Bournemouth, England, United Kingdom | |
| 13 | 114.72 miles (184.62 km) ENE | Birmingham Airport (BHX) | Birmingham, England, United Kingdom | |
| 14 | 115.20 miles (185.40 km) N | Anglesey Airport (HLY) | Anglesey, Wales, United Kingdom | |
| 15 | 117.98 miles (189.88 km) NNE | Chester Hawarden Airport Hawarden Airport (CEG) | Chester, England, United Kingdom | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,965.90 miles (19,257.20 km) SE | Dunedin International Airport (DUD) | Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,957.26 miles (19,243.30 km) SE | Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS) | Stewart Island, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,939.32 miles (19,214.43 km) SE | Invercargill Airport (IVC) | Invercargill, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,927.26 miles (19,195.02 km) SSE | Oamaru Airport (OAM) | Oamaru, North Otago, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,902.82 miles (19,155.68 km) SE | Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) | Alexandra, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,887.53 miles (19,131.07 km) SSE | Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (TIU) | Timaru, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,875.06 miles (19,111.01 km) SE | Queenstown Airport (ZQN) | Queenstown, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,871.27 miles (19,104.91 km) SSE | Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) | Ashburton, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,870.67 miles (19,103.94 km) SE | Wanaka Airport (WKA) | Wanaka, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,854.23 miles (19,077.49 km) SSE | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,840.91 miles (19,056.05 km) SSE | Glentanner Aerodrome (GTN) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,832.78 miles (19,042.96 km) SE | Milford Sound Airport (MFN) | Milford Sound, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,832.28 miles (19,042.16 km) SSE | Mount Cook Airport (MON) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,810.69 miles (19,007.42 km) SSE | Fox Glacier Aerodrome (FGL) | Fox Glacier, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,793.17 miles (18,979.21 km) S | Kaikoura Aerodrome (KBZ) | Kaikoura, New Zealand | |