Nonstop flight route between Mmabatho, South Africa and Saipan Island, Northern Mariana Islands:
Departure Airport:
(25°48'27"S by 25°32'39"E)
Arrival Airport:
(15°7'8"N by 145°43'45"E)
Distance from MBD to SPN:
8,526.34 miles (13,721.78 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MBD Airport Information
- SPN Airport Information
- Facts about MBD
- Facts about SPN
- Map of Nearest Airports to MBD
- List of Nearest Airports to MBD
- Map of Furthest Airports from MBD
- List of Furthest Airports from MBD
- Map of Nearest Airports to SPN
- List of Nearest Airports to SPN
- Map of Furthest Airports from SPN
- List of Furthest Airports from SPN
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Mafikeng Airport (MBD), Mmabatho, South Africa and Saipan International Airport (SPN), Saipan Island, Northern Mariana Islands would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,526 miles (or 13,722 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 Mafikeng Airport and Saipan 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 Mafikeng Airport and Saipan International Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | MBD / FAMM |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Mmabatho, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 25°48'27"S by 25°32'39"E |
| Area Served: | Mafikeng, South Africa |
| Operator/Owner: | Government |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 4181 feet (1,274 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MBD |
| More Information: | MBD Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SPN / PGSN |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Saipan Island, Northern Mariana Islands |
| GPS Coordinates: | 15°7'8"N by 145°43'45"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Commonwealth Ports Authority |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 215 feet (66 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SPN |
| More Information: | SPN Maps & Info |
Facts about Mafikeng Airport (MBD):
- Because of Mafikeng Airport's high elevation of 4,181 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at MBD. Combined with a high temperature, this could make MBD a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- The closest airport to Mafikeng Airport (MBD) is Lobatse Airport (LOQ), which is located 43 miles (70 kilometers) NNE of MBD.
- The furthest airport from Mafikeng Airport (MBD) is Kalaupapa Airport (LUP), which is nearly antipodal to Mafikeng Airport (meaning Mafikeng Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Kalaupapa Airport), and is located 12,081 miles (19,443 kilometers) away in Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States.
- In addition to being known as "Mafikeng Airport", another name for MBD is "Mmabatho Airport".
- Mafikeng Airport (MBD) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about Saipan International Airport (SPN):
- Saipan International Airport (SPN) currently has only 1 runway.
- SPN was a sugarcane field before the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service constructed a temporary landing field on the site in 1933.
- Because of Saipan International Airport's relatively low elevation of 215 feet, planes can take off or land at Saipan 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 Saipan International Airport (SPN) is Salvador-Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport (2 de Julho) (SSA), which is nearly antipodal to Saipan International Airport (meaning Saipan International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Salvador-Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport (2 de Julho)), and is located 12,125 miles (19,514 kilometers) away in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
- Once in American hands, Isely Field was expanded considerably to support Twentieth Air Force B-29 Superfortress operations.
- In 2005, Japan Airlines suspended its services from Japan to SPN.
- The closest airport to Saipan International Airport (SPN) is Tinian International Airport (TIQ), which is located only 11 miles (18 kilometers) SW of SPN.
- In addition to being known as "Saipan International Airport", other names for SPN include "Francisco C. Ada Airport" and "GSN".
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 43.45 miles (69.93 km) NNE | Lobatse Airport (LOQ) | Lobatse, Botswana |     |
| 2 | 89.62 miles (144.23 km) NNE | Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) | Gaborone, Botswana | |
| 3 | 98.86 miles (159.10 km) NNW | Jwaneng Airport (JWA) | Jwaneng, Botswana | |
| 4 | 106.67 miles (171.67 km) ENE | Pilanesberg International Airport (NTY) | Pilanesberg, South Africa | |
| 5 | 148.34 miles (238.73 km) E | Lanseria International Airport (HLA) | Lanseria, South Africa | |
| 6 | 161.80 miles (260.39 km) E | Grand Central Airport (GCJ) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 7 | 164.61 miles (264.91 km) E | Rand Airport (QRA) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 8 | 167.13 miles (268.97 km) E | Wonderboom Airport (PRY) | Pretoria, South Africa | |
| 9 | 169.37 miles (272.57 km) E | O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | |
| 10 | 174.18 miles (280.31 km) SW | Johan Pienaar Airport (KMH) | Kuruman, South Africa | |
| 11 | 183.09 miles (294.65 km) ESE | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| 12 | 212.36 miles (341.75 km) SSW | Kimberley Airport (KIM) | Kimberley, South Africa | |
| 13 | 231.79 miles (373.03 km) SSE | Bloemfontein International Airport (BFN) | Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa | |
| 14 | 260.86 miles (419.81 km) SE | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 268.46 miles (432.05 km) WNW | Hukuntsi Airport (HUK) | Hukuntsi, Botswana | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,081.43 miles (19,443.13 km) NNE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 12,076.67 miles (19,435.46 km) NNE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 12,075.25 miles (19,433.18 km) NNE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 12,074.28 miles (19,431.63 km) NNE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 12,073.76 miles (19,430.79 km) NNE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 12,061.80 miles (19,411.53 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 12,060.85 miles (19,410.00 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 12,056.85 miles (19,403.56 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 12,056.85 miles (19,403.56 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 12,055.41 miles (19,401.25 km) NNE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 12,050.73 miles (19,393.72 km) NE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 12,043.61 miles (19,382.26 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 12,035.62 miles (19,369.41 km) NE | Princeville Airport (HPV) | Hanalei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 12,030.37 miles (19,360.96 km) NE | Lihue Airport (LIH) | Lihue, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 12,028.29 miles (19,357.61 km) N | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11.06 miles (17.80 km) SW | Tinian International Airport (TIQ) | Tinian Island, Northern Mariana Islands | |
| 2 | 72.92 miles (117.36 km) SSW | Rota International Airport (ROP) | Rota Island, Northern Mariana Islands | |
| 3 | 119.13 miles (191.72 km) SSW | Andersen Air Force Base (UAM) | Agana, Guam | |
| 4 | 129.06 miles (207.70 km) SSW | Guam International Airport (GUM) | Hagåtña, Guam | |
| 5 | 533.30 miles (858.26 km) SW | Falalop Airfield (ULI) | Falalop Island, Yap, Federated States of Micronesia | |
| 6 | 645.75 miles (1,039.22 km) SW | Yap International Airport (YAP) | Yap, Federated States of Micronesia | |
| 7 | 671.70 miles (1,081.00 km) SE | Chuuk International Airport (TKK) | Weno, Federated States of Micronesia | |
| 8 | 726.36 miles (1,168.96 km) NNW | Central Field (Iwo Jima)Motoyama No. 2Airfield No. 2 (IWO) | Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands, Japan | |
| 9 | 829.80 miles (1,335.42 km) NE | Minamitorishima Air Field (MUS) | Minami-Tori-shima, Japan | |
| 10 | 927.56 miles (1,492.75 km) SW | Roman Tmetuchl International Airport (ROR) | Koror, Palau | |
| 11 | 1,015.16 miles (1,633.73 km) ESE | Pohnpei International Airport (PNI) | Kolonia, Federated States of Micronesia | |
| 12 | 1,146.10 miles (1,844.46 km) E | Enewetak Auxiliary Airfield (ENT) | Enewetak, Marshall Islands | |
| 13 | 1,192.41 miles (1,919.00 km) NW | Minami-Daito Airport (MMD) | Minami Daito, Okinawa, Japan | |
| 14 | 1,192.72 miles (1,919.50 km) S | Momote Airport (MAS) | Los Negros Island, Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea | |
| 15 | 1,193.19 miles (1,920.24 km) NW | Kitadaito Airport (KTD) | Kitadaito, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,125.20 miles (19,513.57 km) ESE | Salvador-Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport (2 de Julho) (SSA) | Salvador, Bahia, Brazil | |
| 2 | 12,118.20 miles (19,502.30 km) E | Ilhéus/Bahia-Jorge Amado Airport (IOS) | Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil | |
| 3 | 12,104.44 miles (19,480.16 km) ESE | Porto Seguro Airport (BPS) | Porto Seguro, Brazil | |
| 4 | 12,094.54 miles (19,464.23 km) SE | Aracaju–Santa Maria Airport (AJU) | Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil | |
| 5 | 12,036.52 miles (19,370.86 km) SSE | Maceió/Zumbi dos Palmares International Airport (MCZ) | Maceió, Brazil | |
| 6 | 11,996.47 miles (19,306.39 km) E | Pedro Otacílio Figueiredo Airport (VDC) | Vitória da Conquista, Brazil | |
| 7 | 11,951.65 miles (19,234.27 km) S | Recife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC) | Recife, Brazil | |
| 8 | 11,932.95 miles (19,204.17 km) ESE | Coronel Horácio de Mattos Airport (LEC) | Lençõis, Bahia, Brazil | |
| 9 | 11,905.05 miles (19,159.28 km) SE | Vitória-Eurico de Aguiar Salles Airport (Goiabeiras) (VIX) | Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil | |
| 10 | 11,884.00 miles (19,125.40 km) S | Presidente Castro Pinto International Airport (JPA) | João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil | |
| 11 | 11,883.39 miles (19,124.42 km) SSE | Presidente João Suassuna Airport (CPV) | Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil | |
| 12 | 11,866.48 miles (19,097.20 km) E | Guanambi Airport (GNM) | Guanambi, Bahia, Brazil | |
| 13 | 11,864.21 miles (19,093.54 km) ESE | Coronel Altino Machado de Oliveira Airport (GVR) | Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil | |
| 14 | 11,853.53 miles (19,076.36 km) SE | Petrolina–Senador Nilo Coelho Airport (PNZ) | Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil | |
| 15 | 11,834.75 miles (19,046.13 km) SE | Raimundo de Andrade Airport (CDI) | Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Brazil | |