Nonstop flight route between Chicago, Illinois, United States and Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(41°47'9"N by 87°45'8"W)
Arrival Airport:
(28°44'26"S by 32°5'30"E)
Distance from MDW to RCB:
8,997.54 miles (14,480.10 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MDW Airport Information
- RCB Airport Information
- Facts about MDW
- Facts about RCB
- 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 RCB
- List of Nearest Airports to RCB
- Map of Furthest Airports from RCB
- List of Furthest Airports from RCB
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), Chicago, Illinois, United States and Richards Bay Airport (RCB), Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,998 miles (or 14,480 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 Richards Bay 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 Richards Bay 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: | RCB / FARB |
| Airport Name: | Richards Bay Airport |
| Location: | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 28°44'26"S by 32°5'30"E |
| Operator/Owner: | uMhlathuze Local Municipality |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 109 feet (33 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from RCB |
| More Information: | RCB Maps & Info |
Facts about Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW):
- In 1996, after failing to get his Lake Calumet Airport and having received harsh criticism for the idea of turning the airport into an industrial park, Chicago Mayor Richard M.
- Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) has 5 runways.
- The carrier transporting the most passengers from Chicago Midway Airport is Southwest Airlines.
- 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.
- Chicago has considered privatizing the airport, but the deals fell through in 2009 and 2013.
- 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 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.
- 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.
Facts about Richards Bay Airport (RCB):
- The furthest airport from Richards Bay Airport (RCB) is Hana Airport (HNM), which is located 11,689 miles (18,812 kilometers) away in Hana, Hawaii, United States.
- Because of Richards Bay Airport's relatively low elevation of 109 feet, planes can take off or land at Richards Bay 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.
- Richards Bay Airport (RCB) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Richards Bay Airport (RCB) is Hluhluwe Airport (HLW), which is located 52 miles (83 kilometers) NNE of RCB.
| 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 | 51.82 miles (83.40 km) NNE | Hluhluwe Airport (HLW) | Hluhluwe, South Africa | |
| 2 | 84.75 miles (136.40 km) SW | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 3 | 119.80 miles (192.80 km) WSW | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 4 | 142.22 miles (228.88 km) W | Ladysmith Airport (LAY) | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 5 | 160.19 miles (257.81 km) NNW | Matsapha Airport (MTS) | Manzini, Swaziland | |
| 6 | 180.06 miles (289.77 km) SW | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 7 | 186.21 miles (299.68 km) WSW | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 8 | 197.06 miles (317.14 km) N | Maputo International Airport (MPM) | Maputo, Mozambique | |
| 9 | 221.74 miles (356.85 km) WSW | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 235.81 miles (379.50 km) WSW | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 11 | 239.78 miles (385.89 km) NNW | Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) | Nelspruit, South Africa | |
| 12 | 244.68 miles (393.77 km) W | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 13 | 254.51 miles (409.59 km) WSW | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 14 | 273.13 miles (439.56 km) N | Mala Mala Airport (AAM) | Mala Mala, South Africa | |
| 15 | 274.02 miles (441.00 km) WNW | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,688.97 miles (18,811.52 km) NE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,676.26 miles (18,791.08 km) NE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,668.75 miles (18,778.99 km) NE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,668.60 miles (18,778.74 km) NE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,667.34 miles (18,776.72 km) NE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,667.27 miles (18,776.61 km) NE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,660.70 miles (18,766.03 km) NE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,658.80 miles (18,762.97 km) NE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,649.90 miles (18,748.65 km) NE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,647.45 miles (18,744.70 km) NE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,631.35 miles (18,718.80 km) NE | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,629.30 miles (18,715.50 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,627.50 miles (18,712.60 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,627.50 miles (18,712.60 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,625.76 miles (18,709.81 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |