Nonstop flight route between Jackson, Mississippi, United States and Hambantota, Sri Lanka:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN), Jackson, Mississippi, United States and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI), Hambantota, Sri Lanka would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,708 miles (or 15,623 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 Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport and Mattala Rajapaksa International 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 Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN):

• In 1973, Delta Boeing 727s flew nonstop to Atlanta, Birmingham, Dallas/Ft.
• What is now Jackson–Evers International Airport opened in 1963, a new airport to replace Hawkins Field, Jackson's airport since 1928.
• Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport is a city-owned civil-military airport in Jackson, Mississippi, six miles east of Jackson, across the Pearl River.
• Because of Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport's relatively low elevation of 346 feet, planes can take off or land at Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers 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 the early 1990s, the airfield's name became "Jackson International Airport" since it has facilities for international flights.
• The furthest airport from Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 10,979 miles (17,669 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
• The closest airport to Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN) is Hawkins Field (HKS), which is located only 9 miles (14 kilometers) W of JAN.
• Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN) has 2 runways.
• The airport has an L-shaped terminal, with the tarmac extending north.
• In the 1960s, Southern Airways Martin 404s connected Jackson with Natchez, Vicksburg, Greenwood, Columbus, Laurel, and New Orleans, but in the 1970s Southern replaced these with McDonnell Douglas DC-9s.

Facts about Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI):

• It handled nearly 6000 passengers in the first two months after opening.
• As announced earlier the airport was opened for flight operations on 18 March 2013.
• Domestic carriers Helitours and Cinnamon Air offer charter flights that connect the airport with Ratmalana Airport and Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo.
• Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) currently has only 1 runway.
• The closest airport to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) is Weerawila Airport (WRZ), which is located only 8 miles (13 kilometers) ESE of HRI.
• The air traffic control tower of height 41m has been constructed at the highest elevation of the aerodrome.
• On 24 January 2013, Sri Lanka Minister of Civil Aviation Piyankara Jayaratne said in parliament that the airport would be declared open on 18 March 2013.
• In addition to being known as "Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport", another name for HRI is "මත්තල රාජපක්ෂ ජාත්‍යන්තර ගුවන්තොටුපළமத்தல ராஜபக்ஷ பன்னாட்டு விமான நிலையம்".
• Because of Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport's relatively low elevation of 157 feet, planes can take off or land at Mattala Rajapaksa 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 numbers given to the airport's sole runway is 05 and 23.
• The furthest airport from Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) is Seymour Airport (GPS), which is located 11,719 miles (18,860 kilometers) away in Baltra Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.