Nonstop flight route between Houston, Texas, United States and Lae, Papua New Guinea, Papua New Guinea:
Departure Airport:
(29°49'5"N by 95°40'20"W)
Arrival Airport:
(6°34'10"S by 146°43'33"E)
Distance from IWS to LAE:
8,093.87 miles (13,025.79 km)
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- About this route
- IWS Airport Information
- LAE Airport Information
- Facts about IWS
- Facts about LAE
- Map of Nearest Airports to IWS
- List of Nearest Airports to IWS
- Map of Furthest Airports from IWS
- List of Furthest Airports from IWS
- Map of Nearest Airports to LAE
- List of Nearest Airports to LAE
- Map of Furthest Airports from LAE
- List of Furthest Airports from LAE
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between West Houston Airport (IWS), Houston, Texas, United States and Lae Nadzab Airport (LAE), Lae, Papua New Guinea, Papua New Guinea would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,094 miles (or 13,026 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 West Houston Airport and Lae Nadzab 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 West Houston Airport and Lae Nadzab Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | IWS / KIWS |
| Airport Name: | West Houston Airport |
| Location: | Houston, Texas, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 29°49'5"N by 95°40'20"W |
| Area Served: | Houston, Texas |
| Operator/Owner: | West Houston Airport Corp. |
| Airport Type: | Public use |
| Elevation: | 111 feet (34 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from IWS |
| More Information: | IWS Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | LAE / AYNZ |
| Airport Name: | Lae Nadzab Airport |
| Location: | Lae, Papua New Guinea, Papua New Guinea |
| GPS Coordinates: | 6°34'10"S by 146°43'33"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Papua New Guinea Office of Civil Aviation |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 239 feet (73 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from LAE |
| More Information: | LAE Maps & Info |
Facts about West Houston Airport (IWS):
- Landing at the airport is free, except for helicopters, where the fee is waived if the customer buys gasoline.
- The furthest airport from West Houston Airport (IWS) is Cocos (Keeling) Island Airport (CCK), which is located 10,979 miles (17,668 kilometers) away in Cocos Islands, Australia.
- Because of West Houston Airport's relatively low elevation of 111 feet, planes can take off or land at West Houston 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 West Houston Airport (IWS) is Andrau Airpark (AAP), which is located only 9 miles (14 kilometers) SE of IWS.
- On January 3, 2012, a pilot flying a 1985 Cessna 172P with a 180 HP engine from West Houston Airport to Lone Star Executive Airport reported losing power to her aircraft.
- West Houston Airport (IWS) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about Lae Nadzab Airport (LAE):
- The airfield in Lae was operating at the same time as Nadzab but business was significantly lost to the new airport complex became fully operational in 1977.
- Two parallel runways were built, running roughly east to west.
- Because of Lae Nadzab Airport's relatively low elevation of 239 feet, planes can take off or land at Lae Nadzab 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 Lae Nadzab Airport (LAE) is Governador Carlos Wilson Airport (FEN), which is located 11,714 miles (18,852 kilometers) away in Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil.
- The closest airport to Lae Nadzab Airport (LAE) is Bulolo Airport (BUL), which is located 45 miles (72 kilometers) S of LAE.
- Between April 1943 and July 1943, the Allied Geographical Section of South West Pacific Area conducted reconnaissance after the Japanese invasion.
- Lae Nadzab Airport (LAE) currently has only 1 runway.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 8.83 miles (14.21 km) SE | Andrau Airpark (AAP) | Houston, Texas, United States |     |
| 2 | 13.58 miles (21.86 km) S | Sugar Land Regional Airport (SGR) | Sugar Land, Texas (near Houston), United States | |
| 3 | 18.29 miles (29.44 km) NNE | David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport (DWH) | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| 4 | 22.91 miles (36.88 km) ENE | George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| 5 | 26.46 miles (42.59 km) ESE | William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| 6 | 34.10 miles (54.88 km) ESE | Ellington Field Joint Reserve BaseEllington Air Force BaseEllington Field (EFD) | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| 7 | 40.00 miles (64.38 km) NNE | Lone Star Executive Airport (CXO) | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| 8 | 43.21 miles (69.54 km) E | Baytown Airport (HPY) | Baytown, Texas, United States | |
| 9 | 48.56 miles (78.15 km) SW | Wharton Regional Airport (WHT) | Wharton, Texas, United States | |
| 10 | 50.64 miles (81.50 km) SSE | Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport (LJN) | Angleton / Lake Jackson, Texas, United States | |
| 11 | 59.50 miles (95.76 km) S | Bay City Municipal Airport (BBC) | Bay City, Texas, United States | |
| 12 | 61.99 miles (99.76 km) SE | Scholes International Airport at Galveston (GLS) | Galveston, Texas, United States | |
| 13 | 64.36 miles (103.58 km) N | Bruce Brothers Huntsville Regional Airport (HTV) | Huntsville, Texas, United States | |
| 14 | 67.36 miles (108.40 km) NW | Easterwood Airport (CLL) | College Station, Texas, United States | |
| 15 | 73.41 miles (118.14 km) NNW | Coulter Field (CFD) | Bryan, Texas, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,978.58 miles (17,668.27 km) SW | Cocos (Keeling) Island Airport (CCK) | Cocos Islands, Australia | |
| 2 | 10,952.82 miles (17,626.82 km) ESE | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 3 | 10,653.72 miles (17,145.45 km) ESE | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 4 | 10,634.50 miles (17,114.52 km) W | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,622.80 miles (17,095.70 km) W | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,615.95 miles (17,084.67 km) WSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,610.33 miles (17,075.63 km) W | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,609.04 miles (17,073.55 km) W | Carnarvon Airport (CVQ) | Carnarvon, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,604.64 miles (17,066.48 km) W | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,598.75 miles (17,056.99 km) WSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,586.79 miles (17,037.74 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,582.60 miles (17,030.99 km) WSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,567.23 miles (17,006.26 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,561.50 miles (16,997.04 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,558.05 miles (16,991.49 km) W | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 44.97 miles (72.37 km) S | Bulolo Airport (BUL) | Bulolo, Papua New Guinea | |
| 2 | 58.68 miles (94.44 km) WNW | Aiyura Airport (AYU) | Aiyura, Papua New Guinea | |
| 3 | 63.54 miles (102.26 km) NW | Gusap Airport (GAP) | Gusap, Papua New Guinea | |
| 4 | 77.51 miles (124.73 km) E | Finschhafen Airport (FIN) | Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea | |
| 5 | 78.46 miles (126.27 km) WSW | Andakombe Airport (ADC) | Andakombe, Papua New Guinea | |
| 6 | 97.63 miles (157.12 km) WNW | Goroka Airport (GKA) | Goroka, Papua New Guinea | |
| 7 | 114.22 miles (183.82 km) NW | Madang Airport (MAG) | Madang, Papua New Guinea | |
| 8 | 116.43 miles (187.38 km) SW | Kerema Airport (KMA) | Kerema, Papua New Guinea | |
| 9 | 126.34 miles (203.32 km) WNW | Chimbu Airport (CMU) | Kundiawa, Papua New Guinea | |
| 10 | 129.27 miles (208.03 km) SW | Ihu Airport (IHU) | Ihu, Papua New Guinea | |
| 11 | 139.10 miles (223.85 km) S | Fane Airport (FNE) | Fane, Papua New Guinea | |
| 12 | 140.13 miles (225.51 km) ENE | Cape Gloucester Airport (CGC) | Cape Gloucester, Papua New Guinea | |
| 13 | 145.33 miles (233.89 km) WSW | Baimuru Airport (VMU) | Baimuru, Papua New Guinea | |
| 14 | 168.86 miles (271.75 km) NW | Aiome Airport (AIE) | Aiome, Papua New Guinea | |
| 15 | 174.08 miles (280.15 km) SSE | Kokoda Airport (KKD) | Kokoda, Papua New Guinea | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,714.18 miles (18,852.10 km) N | Governador Carlos Wilson Airport (FEN) | Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil | |
| 2 | 11,635.23 miles (18,725.04 km) NNE | Pinto Martins – Fortaleza International Airport (FOR) | Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil | |
| 3 | 11,608.79 miles (18,682.49 km) NW | São Filipe Airport (SFL) | Fogo, Cape Verde | |
| 4 | 11,594.32 miles (18,659.20 km) NW | Mosteiros Airport (MTI) | Mosteiros, Cape Verde | |
| 5 | 11,576.38 miles (18,630.33 km) NNE | Gov. Dix-Sept Rosado Airport (MVF) | Mossoro, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil | |
| 6 | 11,563.96 miles (18,610.34 km) N | Augusto Severo International Airport (NAT) | Natal, Brazil | |
| 7 | 11,560.62 miles (18,604.97 km) NE | Parnaíba–Prefeito Dr. João Silva Filho International Airport (PHB) | Parnaiba, Piaui, Brazil | |
| 8 | 11,557.57 miles (18,600.06 km) NW | Praia International Airport (RAI) | Praia, Cape Verde | |
| 9 | 11,536.25 miles (18,565.75 km) NW | Cesária Évora International Airport (VXE) | São Vicente, Cape Verde | |
| 10 | 11,532.99 miles (18,560.49 km) NW | Maio Airport (MMO) | Maio, Cape Verde | |
| 11 | 11,517.64 miles (18,535.79 km) NW | Agostinho Neto Airport (NTO) | Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, Cape Verde | |
| 12 | 11,516.19 miles (18,533.47 km) NE | Barreirinhas Airport (BRB) | Barreirinhas, Maranhão, Brazil | |
| 13 | 11,515.76 miles (18,532.78 km) NW | Preguiça Airport (SNE) | São Nicolau, Cape Verde | |
| 14 | 11,482.14 miles (18,478.67 km) S | Presidente Castro Pinto International Airport (JPA) | João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil | |
| 15 | 11,472.16 miles (18,462.61 km) NW | Aristides Pereira International Airport (BVC) | Boa Vista, Cape Verde | |