Nonstop flight route between Chicago, Illinois, United States and Polokwane, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(41°47'9"N by 87°45'8"W)
Arrival Airport:
(23°50'43"S by 29°27'30"E)
Distance from MDW to PTG:
8,673.82 miles (13,959.12 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- MDW Airport Information
- PTG Airport Information
- Facts about MDW
- Facts about PTG
- Map of Nearest Airports to MDW
- List of Nearest Airports to MDW
- Map of Furthest Airports from MDW
- List of Furthest Airports from MDW
- Map of Nearest Airports to PTG
- List of Nearest Airports to PTG
- Map of Furthest Airports from PTG
- List of Furthest Airports from PTG
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), Chicago, Illinois, United States and Polokwane International Airport (PTG), Polokwane, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,674 miles (or 13,959 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 Chicago Midway International Airport and Polokwane 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 Chicago Midway International Airport and Polokwane 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: | MDW / KMDW |
| Airport Name: | Chicago Midway International Airport |
| Location: | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 41°47'9"N by 87°45'8"W |
| Area Served: | Chicago, Illinois, US |
| Operator/Owner: | City of Chicago |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 620 feet (189 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 5 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MDW |
| More Information: | MDW Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | PTG / FAPP |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Polokwane, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 23°50'43"S by 29°27'30"E |
| Area Served: | Polokwane (Pietersburg), South Africa |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 4076 feet (1,242 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PTG |
| More Information: | PTG Maps & Info |
Facts about Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW):
- During the 1950s, before the rise of O'Hare, Midway was the world's busiest airport and a hub of the U.S.
- By 1967 reconstruction began at the airport, adding three new concourses with 28 gates and three ticket counters, and in 1968 the city invested $10 million in renovation funds.
- Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) has 5 runways.
- Simultaneous to Midway's expansion, ATA Airlines began rapid expansion at Midway in the early 2000s, and was the airport's dominant carrier prior to 2004, using 14 of the 17 gates in Concourse A.
- Chicago Midway ranked highest in customer satisfaction among medium-sized airports in J.
- In September 2013, Mayor Rahm Emanuel terminated negotiations to privatize the airport, noting that the process was no longer competitive after one of the two finalists had backed out.
- Chicago has considered privatizing the airport, but the deals fell through in 2009 and 2013.
- Chicago Midway Airport is the second-largest passenger airport in the state of Illinois after Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
- Because of Chicago Midway International Airport's relatively low elevation of 620 feet, planes can take off or land at Chicago Midway 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 Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,083 miles (17,836 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- The closest airport to Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), which is located only 15 miles (25 kilometers) NNW of MDW.
Facts about Polokwane International Airport (PTG):
- Because of Polokwane International Airport's high elevation of 4,076 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at PTG. Combined with a high temperature, this could make PTG a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- Polokwane International Airport (PTG) has 2 runways.
- In addition to being known as "Polokwane International Airport", another name for PTG is "Gateway International Airport".
- The furthest airport from Polokwane International Airport (PTG) is Hilo International Airport (ITO), which is nearly antipodal to Polokwane International Airport (meaning Polokwane International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Hilo International Airport), and is located 12,031 miles (19,362 kilometers) away in Hilo, Hawaii, United States.
- The closest airport to Polokwane International Airport (PTG) is Air Force Base Hoedspruit (HDS), which is located 106 miles (171 kilometers) ESE of PTG.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 15.43 miles (24.84 km) NNW | Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) | Chicago, Illinois, United States |     |
| 2 | 21.09 miles (33.94 km) ESE | Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY) | Gary, Indiana (near Chicago), United States | |
| 3 | 21.61 miles (34.78 km) SW | Lewis University Airport (LOT) | Chicago / Romeoville, Illinois, United States | |
| 4 | 23.93 miles (38.51 km) NNW | Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) | Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, Illinois, United States | |
| 5 | 26.85 miles (43.21 km) WNW | DuPage Airport (DPA) | West Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| 6 | 28.65 miles (46.11 km) SW | Joliet Regional Airport (JOT) | Joliet, Illinois, United States | |
| 7 | 37.27 miles (59.98 km) W | Chicago/Aurora Municipal Airport (AUZ) | Aurora, Illinois, United States | |
| 8 | 44.35 miles (71.37 km) N | Waukegan National Airport (UGN) | Chicago / Waukegan, Illinois, United States | |
| 9 | 44.82 miles (72.13 km) ESE | Porter County Regional Airport (VPZ) | Valparaiso, Indiana, United States | |
| 10 | 48.35 miles (77.82 km) E | Michigan City Municipal Airport (MGC) | Michigan City, Indiana, United States | |
| 11 | 49.62 miles (79.86 km) S | Greater Kankakee Airport (IKK) | Kankakee, Illinois, United States | |
| 12 | 54.57 miles (87.82 km) ESE | La Porte Municipal Airport (LPO) | La Porte, Indiana, United States | |
| 13 | 54.57 miles (87.82 km) ESE | La Porte Municipal Airport (PPO) | La Porte, Indiana, United States | |
| 14 | 56.64 miles (91.16 km) N | Kenosha Regional Airport (ENW) | Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States | |
| 15 | 65.03 miles (104.65 km) SSE | Jasper County Airport (RNZ) | Rensselaer, Indiana, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,082.52 miles (17,835.55 km) WSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,059.15 miles (17,797.94 km) WSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,042.23 miles (17,770.69 km) WSW | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,034.50 miles (17,758.26 km) WSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,989.79 miles (17,686.30 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,980.03 miles (17,670.60 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,976.78 miles (17,665.37 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,966.52 miles (17,648.86 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,947.40 miles (17,618.08 km) WSW | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,943.03 miles (17,611.06 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,892.21 miles (17,529.27 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,860.48 miles (17,478.20 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,850.05 miles (17,461.42 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,840.63 miles (17,446.26 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,800.95 miles (17,382.40 km) SW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 106.38 miles (171.20 km) ESE | Air Force Base Hoedspruit (HDS) | Hoedspruit, South Africa | |
| 2 | 107.35 miles (172.77 km) E | Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW) | Phalaborwa, South Africa | |
| 3 | 147.00 miles (236.58 km) SSW | Wonderboom Airport (PRY) | Pretoria, South Africa | |
| 4 | 147.53 miles (237.43 km) ESE | Mala Mala Airport (AAM) | Mala Mala, South Africa | |
| 5 | 148.31 miles (238.67 km) SE | Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) | Nelspruit, South Africa | |
| 6 | 169.44 miles (272.69 km) SSW | Grand Central Airport (GCJ) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 7 | 173.62 miles (279.41 km) SSW | Lanseria International Airport (HLA) | Lanseria, South Africa | |
| 8 | 175.74 miles (282.82 km) SSW | O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | |
| 9 | 176.60 miles (284.21 km) SW | Pilanesberg International Airport (NTY) | Pilanesberg, South Africa | |
| 10 | 184.75 miles (297.32 km) SSW | Rand Airport (QRA) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 11 | 195.72 miles (314.98 km) SSW | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| 12 | 218.49 miles (351.63 km) SSE | Matsapha Airport (MTS) | Manzini, Swaziland | |
| 13 | 224.67 miles (361.56 km) NW | Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base (FRW) | Francistown, Botswana | |
| 14 | 228.43 miles (367.63 km) WSW | Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) | Gaborone, Botswana | |
| 15 | 238.24 miles (383.40 km) NE | Buffalo Range Airport (BFO) | Chiredzi, Zimbabwe | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,030.86 miles (19,361.74 km) NE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 12,028.49 miles (19,357.93 km) ENE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 12,015.95 miles (19,337.74 km) NE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 12,014.37 miles (19,335.21 km) NE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 12,009.05 miles (19,326.64 km) ENE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 12,004.73 miles (19,319.70 km) NE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,997.48 miles (19,308.03 km) ENE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,987.83 miles (19,292.49 km) ENE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,983.91 miles (19,286.19 km) NE | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,978.96 miles (19,278.21 km) ENE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,975.85 miles (19,273.21 km) ENE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,934.69 miles (19,206.98 km) ENE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,934.69 miles (19,206.98 km) ENE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,931.76 miles (19,202.27 km) ENE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,925.56 miles (19,192.28 km) ENE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |