Nonstop flight route between Wilmington, North Carolina, United States and Buka Island, Papua New Guinea:
Departure Airport:

Arrival Airport:

Distance from ILM to BUA:
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- About this route
- ILM Airport Information
- BUA Airport Information
- Facts about ILM
- Facts about BUA
- Map of Nearest Airports to ILM
- List of Nearest Airports to ILM
- Map of Furthest Airports from ILM
- List of Furthest Airports from ILM
- Map of Nearest Airports to BUA
- List of Nearest Airports to BUA
- Map of Furthest Airports from BUA
- List of Furthest Airports from BUA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Wilmington International Airport (ILM), Wilmington, North Carolina, United States and Buka Island Airport (BUA), Buka Island, Papua New Guinea would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,539 miles (or 13,742 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 Wilmington International Airport and Buka Island 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 Wilmington International Airport and Buka Island Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | ILM / KILM |
Airport Names: |
|
Location: | Wilmington, North Carolina, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 34°16'14"N by 77°54'9"W |
Area Served: | Wilmington, North Carolina |
Operator/Owner: | New Hanover County, North Carolina |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 32 feet (10 meters) |
# of Runways: | 2 |
View all routes: | Routes from ILM |
More Information: | ILM Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | BUA / AYBK |
Airport Name: | Buka Island Airport |
Location: | Buka Island, Papua New Guinea |
GPS Coordinates: | 5°25'19"S by 154°40'21"E |
Area Served: | Buka Island, Papua New Guinea |
Operator/Owner: | Government |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 11 feet (3 meters) |
# of Runways: | 1 |
View all routes: | Routes from BUA |
More Information: | BUA Maps & Info |
Facts about Wilmington International Airport (ILM):
- The closest airport to Wilmington International Airport (ILM) is Albert J. Ellis Airport (OAJ), which is located 42 miles (68 kilometers) NNE of ILM.
- Wilmington International Airport is undergoing many improvements and additions to attract more business to the Airport and to improve the experience of passenger’s travels.
- The furthest airport from Wilmington International Airport (ILM) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,693 miles (18,818 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- Wilmington International Airport (ILM) has 2 runways.
- The New Hanover County Airport Authority has five board members.
- During World War II, the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Forces Third Air Force for antisubmarine patrols and training.
- In addition to being known as "Wilmington International Airport", another name for ILM is "New Hanover County International Airport".
- Because of Wilmington International Airport's relatively low elevation of 32 feet, planes can take off or land at Wilmington 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.
Facts about Buka Island Airport (BUA):
- Because of Buka Island Airport's relatively low elevation of 11 feet, planes can take off or land at Buka Island 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.
- Today the airport is the primary air portal into Bougainville, and even 60 years after the war, wreckage from the military use of the airfield by the Japanese and Americans is easily found in the area.
- The closest airport to Buka Island Airport (BUA) is Nissan Island Airport (IIS), which is located 71 miles (114 kilometers) NNW of BUA.
- The furthest airport from Buka Island Airport (BUA) is São Filipe Airport (SFL), which is located 11,781 miles (18,959 kilometers) away in Fogo, Cape Verde.
- Buka Island Airport (BUA) currently has only 1 runway.
- There is one navigational aid, the Buka NDB situated on nearby Sohano Island.