Nonstop flight route between Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and Cape Town, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(37°40'23"S by 144°50'35"E)
Arrival Airport:
(33°58'9"S by 18°35'49"E)
Distance from MEL to CPT:
6,403.06 miles (10,304.70 km)
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- About this route
- MEL Airport Information
- CPT Airport Information
- Facts about MEL
- Facts about CPT
- Map of Nearest Airports to MEL
- List of Nearest Airports to MEL
- Map of Furthest Airports from MEL
- List of Furthest Airports from MEL
- Map of Nearest Airports to CPT
- List of Nearest Airports to CPT
- Map of Furthest Airports from CPT
- List of Furthest Airports from CPT
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Melbourne Airport (MEL), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and Cape Town International Airport (CPT), Cape Town, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,403 miles (or 10,305 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 Melbourne Airport and Cape Town 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 Melbourne Airport and Cape Town 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: | MEL / YMML |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 37°40'23"S by 144°50'35"E |
| Area Served: | Melbourne |
| Operator/Owner: | Australia Pacific Airports Corporation Limited |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 434 feet (132 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MEL |
| More Information: | MEL Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | CPT / FACT |
| Airport Name: | Cape Town International Airport |
| Location: | Cape Town, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 33°58'9"S by 18°35'49"E |
| Area Served: | Cape Town |
| Operator/Owner: | Airports Company South Africa |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 151 feet (46 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from CPT |
| More Information: | CPT Maps & Info |
Facts about Melbourne Airport (MEL):
- Melbourne Airport (MEL) has 2 runways.
- The closest airport to Melbourne Airport (MEL) is Essendon Airport (MEB), which is located only 5 miles (8 kilometers) SE of MEL.
- Terminal 1 hosts domestic services for Qantas Group airlines, Qantas, Jetstar and QantasLink and is located to the northern end of the building.
- In 1988, the Australian Government formed the Federal Airports Corporation, placing Melbourne Airport under the operational control of the new corporation along with 21 other airports around the nation.
- In addition to being known as "Melbourne Airport", another name for MEL is "Tullamarine Airport".
- The Melbourne–Sydney air route is the third most-travelled passenger air route in the world and the third busiest in the Asia Pacific region.
- Because of Melbourne Airport's relatively low elevation of 434 feet, planes can take off or land at Melbourne 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.
- Melbourne Airport handled 2,998,000 passengers last year.
- Jetstar Airways confirmed its involvement in discussions with Melbourne Airport regarding the expansion of terminal facilities to accommodate for the growth of domestic low-cost services.
- The furthest airport from Melbourne Airport (MEL) is Flores Airport (FLW), which is nearly antipodal to Melbourne Airport (meaning Melbourne Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Flores Airport), and is located 12,187 miles (19,613 kilometers) away in Flores Island, Azores, Portugal.
Facts about Cape Town International Airport (CPT):
- Cape Town International Airport recorded 7.8 million passengers in 2008–2009, down from 8.4 million passengers the year before.
- The closest airport to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is George Airport (GRJ), which is located 217 miles (349 kilometers) E of CPT.
- Because of Cape Town International Airport's relatively low elevation of 151 feet, planes can take off or land at Cape Town 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.
- Cape Town International Airport was opened in 1954, a year after Jan Smuts Airport on the Witwatersrand opened.
- Cape Town International Airport (CPT) has 2 runways.
- In preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Cape Town International Airport was extensively expanded and renovated.
- The furthest airport from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is Princeville Airport (HPV), which is located 11,616 miles (18,693 kilometers) away in Hanalei, Hawaii, United States.
- Cape Town International Airport handled 8,505,563 passengers last year.
- The only hotel located within the airport precinct is the budget Road Lodge, owned by the City Lodge hotel chain group.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 4.96 miles (7.98 km) SE | Essendon Airport (MEB) | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |     |
| 2 | 25.23 miles (40.60 km) SE | Moorabbin Harry Hawker Airport (MBW) | Moorabbin, Victoria, Australia | |
| 3 | 44.63 miles (71.82 km) SW | Avalon Airport (AVV) | Avalon, Victoria, Australia | |
| 4 | 47.19 miles (75.95 km) SW | Geelong Airport (GEX) | Grovedale, Victoria, Australia | |
| 5 | 70.44 miles (113.37 km) NNW | Bendigo Airport (BXG) | Bendigo, Victoria, Australia | |
| 6 | 91.16 miles (146.71 km) NNE | Shepparton Airport (SHT) | Shepparton, Victoria, Australia | |
| 7 | 100.57 miles (161.85 km) NE | Benalla Airport (BLN) | Benalla, Victoria, Australia | |
| 8 | 104.74 miles (168.57 km) WNW | Ararat Airport (ARY) | Ararat, Victoria, Australia | |
| 9 | 104.85 miles (168.74 km) N | Echuca Airport (ECH) | Echuca, Victoria, Australia | |
| 10 | 137.40 miles (221.13 km) WSW | Warrnambool Airport (WMB) | Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia | |
| 11 | 141.89 miles (228.34 km) NNW | Kerang Airport (KRA) | Kerang, Victoria, Australia | |
| 12 | 143.12 miles (230.33 km) NE | Corowa Airport (CWW) | Corowa, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 13 | 143.46 miles (230.87 km) ENE | Mount Hotham Airport (MHU) | Mount Hotham, Victoria, Australia | |
| 14 | 146.13 miles (235.17 km) N | Deniliquin Airport (DNQ) | Deniliquin, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 15 | 149.51 miles (240.61 km) E | Bairnsdale Aerodrome (BSJ) | Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,186.88 miles (19,612.84 km) WNW | Flores Airport (FLW) | Flores Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 2 | 12,178.71 miles (19,599.68 km) WNW | Corvo Airport (CVU) | Corvo Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 3 | 12,081.84 miles (19,443.78 km) WNW | Horta International Airport (HOR) | Horta, Azores, Portugal | |
| 4 | 12,066.79 miles (19,419.57 km) WNW | Pico Airport (PIX) | Pico Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 5 | 12,038.60 miles (19,374.20 km) WNW | Graciosa Airport (GRW) | Graciosa Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 6 | 11,992.69 miles (19,300.32 km) WNW | Lajes Air Base (TER) | Lajes, Azores, Portugal | |
| 7 | 11,919.95 miles (19,183.25 km) W | João Paulo II Airport (PDL) | Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal | |
| 8 | 11,886.29 miles (19,129.07 km) W | Santa Maria Airport (SMA) | Santa Maria, Portugal | |
| 9 | 11,345.60 miles (18,258.93 km) WNW | Madeira Airport (FNC) | Funchal, Madeira, Portugal | |
| 10 | 11,332.76 miles (18,238.26 km) W | Porto Santo Airport (PXO) | Porto Santo, Madeira, Portugal | |
| 11 | 11,313.48 miles (18,207.24 km) NE | St. John's International Airport (YYT) | St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada | |
| 12 | 11,254.91 miles (18,112.98 km) WNW | La Palma Airport (SPC) | La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 13 | 11,203.87 miles (18,030.83 km) WNW | La Gomera Airport (GMZ) | Alajeró / San Sebastián, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 14 | 11,197.14 miles (18,020.01 km) NE | Saint-Pierre Airport (FSP) | Saint-Pierre, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, France | |
| 15 | 11,194.75 miles (18,016.17 km) NE | Gander International Airport (YQX) | Gander, Newfoundland, Canada | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 216.76 miles (348.84 km) E | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 2 | 309.01 miles (497.30 km) NNW | Kleinsee Airport (KLZ) | Kleinzee, South Africa | |
| 3 | 324.14 miles (521.66 km) N | Aggeneys Airport (AGZ) | Aggeneys, South Africa | |
| 4 | 324.14 miles (521.66 km) N | Wild Coast Sun Airport (MZF) | Mzamba, South Africa | |
| 5 | 392.20 miles (631.19 km) NNW | Alexander Bay Airport (ALJ) | Alexander Bay, South Africa | |
| 6 | 401.75 miles (646.55 km) E | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 7 | 410.22 miles (660.19 km) N | Karasburg Airport (KAS) | Karasburg, Namibia | |
| 8 | 415.63 miles (668.89 km) NNE | Upington Airport (UTN) | Upington, South Africa | |
| 9 | 476.49 miles (766.83 km) E | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 10 | 509.47 miles (819.90 km) NE | Kimberley Airport (KIM) | Kimberley, South Africa | |
| 11 | 514.16 miles (827.46 km) N | Keetmanshoop Airport (KMP) | Keetmanshoop, Namibia | |
| 12 | 532.99 miles (857.76 km) NNE | Johan Pienaar Airport (KMH) | Kuruman, South Africa | |
| 13 | 535.17 miles (861.26 km) E | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 14 | 541.34 miles (871.20 km) NNW | Lüderitz Airport (LUD) | Luderitz, Namibia | |
| 15 | 564.91 miles (909.13 km) NE | Bloemfontein International Airport (BFN) | Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,615.59 miles (18,693.43 km) N | Princeville Airport (HPV) | Hanalei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,605.52 miles (18,677.23 km) N | PMRF Barking Sands (BKH) | Kekaha, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,598.69 miles (18,666.23 km) N | Lihue Airport (LIH) | Lihue, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,595.51 miles (18,661.13 km) N | Port Allen Airport (PAK) | Hanapepe, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,558.75 miles (18,601.95 km) NNW | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,550.18 miles (18,588.17 km) NNW | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,538.63 miles (18,569.58 km) NNW | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,537.32 miles (18,567.47 km) NNW | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,537.32 miles (18,567.47 km) NNW | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,514.81 miles (18,531.24 km) NNW | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,513.09 miles (18,528.48 km) NNW | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,492.88 miles (18,495.95 km) NNW | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,486.14 miles (18,485.10 km) NNW | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,484.00 miles (18,481.66 km) NNW | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,468.86 miles (18,457.29 km) NNW | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |