Nonstop flight route between Midland/Bay City/Saginaw, Michigan, United States and East London, South Africa:
Departure Airport:

Arrival Airport:

Distance from MBS to ELS:
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- About this route
- MBS Airport Information
- ELS Airport Information
- Facts about MBS
- Facts about ELS
- Map of Nearest Airports to MBS
- List of Nearest Airports to MBS
- Map of Furthest Airports from MBS
- List of Furthest Airports from MBS
- Map of Nearest Airports to ELS
- List of Nearest Airports to ELS
- Map of Furthest Airports from ELS
- List of Furthest Airports from ELS
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between MBS International Airport (MBS), Midland/Bay City/Saginaw, Michigan, United States and East London Airport (ELS), East London, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,777 miles (or 14,125 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 MBS International Airport and East London 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 MBS International Airport and East London Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | MBS / KMBS |
Airport Name: | MBS International Airport |
Location: | Midland/Bay City/Saginaw, Michigan, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 43°31'58"N by 84°4'46"W |
Area Served: | Saginaw, Michigan Midland, Michigan Bay City, Michigan |
Operator/Owner: | Bay County, Michigan, Midland, Michigan, Saginaw, Michigan |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 668 feet (204 meters) |
# of Runways: | 2 |
View all routes: | Routes from MBS |
More Information: | MBS Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | ELS / FAEL |
Airport Name: | East London Airport |
Location: | East London, South Africa |
GPS Coordinates: | 33°2'5"S by 27°49'17"E |
Area Served: | East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 436 feet (133 meters) |
# of Runways: | 2 |
View all routes: | Routes from ELS |
More Information: | ELS Maps & Info |
Facts about MBS International Airport (MBS):
- The furthest airport from MBS International Airport (MBS) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,213 miles (18,046 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- Once the third busiest airport in Michigan, MBS has fallen in air service and passenger numbers.
- Because of MBS International Airport's relatively low elevation of 668 feet, planes can take off or land at MBS 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 closest airport to MBS International Airport (MBS) is Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport (MOP), which is located 33 miles (54 kilometers) W of MBS.
- During World War II, it was used to hold prisoners of war.
- MBS International Airport (MBS) has 2 runways.
- Delta Air Lines merged with Northwest Airlines.
- Compass Airlines, Comair, and Mesaba Airlines ground handling merged into one service called Regional Elite Airline Services.
Facts about East London Airport (ELS):
- The closest airport to East London Airport (ELS) is Port Alfred Airport (AFD), which is located 65 miles (105 kilometers) WSW of ELS.
- In 1965 the airport was again moved, this time to its present site, 9 km west of the city centre.
- The airport had an inauspicious beginning in 1927, when Lieut Colonel Alistair Miller asked the East London town council to help establish a municipal aerodrome at Woodbrook, west of the city.
- The furthest airport from East London Airport (ELS) is Kalaupapa Airport (LUP), which is located 11,569 miles (18,618 kilometers) away in Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States.
- East London Airport (ELS) has 2 runways.
- Because of East London Airport's relatively low elevation of 436 feet, planes can take off or land at East London 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.