Nonstop flight route between Jackson, Mississippi, United States and Port Elizabeth, South Africa:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN), Jackson, Mississippi, United States and Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), Port Elizabeth, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,778 miles (or 14,127 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 Port Elizabeth 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 Port Elizabeth 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):

• 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.
• The 172d Airlift Wing of the Mississippi Air National Guard has also maintained an Air National Guard base on the airport since 1963, having relocated that year from nearby Hawkins Field.
• It serves commercial, private, and military aviation.
• Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN) has 2 runways.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• In the 1980s, air service to Jackson remained steady.

Facts about Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ):

• Because of Port Elizabeth International Airport's relatively low elevation of 226 feet, planes can take off or land at Port Elizabeth 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.
• Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) has 2 runways.
• The closest airport to Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) is Port Alfred Airport (AFD), which is located 79 miles (127 kilometers) ENE of PLZ.
• June, 2010 - South African Airways operated an Airbus A340-200 to Port Elizabeth to help manage the extra volume of people during the FIFA World Cup 2010.
• The furthest airport from Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) is Princeville Airport (HPV), which is located 11,567 miles (18,615 kilometers) away in Hanalei, Hawaii, United States.
• August 1998 - A South African Airways Boeing 747-400 landed at Port Elizabeth Airport to be officially named 'Ibayhi' the Xhosa word for Port Elizabeth.
• During World War II, the airfield was extended to accommodate 42 Air School for the Royal Air Force and 6 Squadron South African Air Force on the southern and eastern sides of the field.
• Air Force Station Port Elizabeth is home to C Flight of 15 Squadron of the South African Air Force.
• The airport is located approximately two miles south of the city's central business district.