Nonstop flight route between Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and Phalaborwa, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(37°40'23"S by 144°50'35"E)
Arrival Airport:
(23°56'12"S by 31°9'18"E)
Distance from MEL to PHW:
6,387.43 miles (10,279.54 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MEL Airport Information
- PHW Airport Information
- Facts about MEL
- Facts about PHW
- 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 PHW
- List of Nearest Airports to PHW
- Map of Furthest Airports from PHW
- List of Furthest Airports from PHW
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Melbourne Airport (MEL), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW), Phalaborwa, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,387 miles (or 10,280 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 Hendrik Van Eck 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 Hendrik Van Eck 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: | PHW / FAPH |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Phalaborwa, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 23°56'12"S by 31°9'18"E |
| Area Served: | Phalaborwa, South Africa |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 1432 feet (436 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PHW |
| More Information: | PHW Maps & Info |
Facts about Melbourne Airport (MEL):
- Melbourne is the second busiest airport in Australia.
- 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.
- Today, a wide range of shops and food outlets are situated at the end of the terminal near the entrance into Terminal 2.
- Melbourne Airport handled 2,998,000 passengers last year.
- Before the opening of Melbourne Airport, Melbourne's main airport was Essendon Airport which was officially designated an international airport in 1950.
- The closest airport to Melbourne Airport (MEL) is Essendon Airport (MEB), which is located only 5 miles (8 kilometers) SE of MEL.
- The international terminal contains works by noted Australian Indigenous artists including Daisy Jugadai Napaltjarri and Gloria Petyarre.
- In addition to being known as "Melbourne Airport", another name for MEL is "Tullamarine Airport".
- 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.
- Melbourne Airport (MEL) has 2 runways.
- Since privatisation, further improvements to infrastructure have begun at the airport, including expansion of runways, car parks and terminals.
Facts about Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW):
- Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW) is Air Force Base Hoedspruit (HDS), which is located 30 miles (48 kilometers) SSW of PHW.
- The furthest airport from Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW) is Hilo International Airport (ITO), which is located 11,944 miles (19,222 kilometers) away in Hilo, Hawaii, United States.
- In addition to being known as "Hendrik Van Eck Airport", another name for PHW is "Phalaborwa Airport".
| 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 | 29.63 miles (47.68 km) SSW | Air Force Base Hoedspruit (HDS) | Hoedspruit, South Africa | |
| 2 | 65.65 miles (105.65 km) SSE | Mala Mala Airport (AAM) | Mala Mala, South Africa | |
| 3 | 100.00 miles (160.94 km) S | Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) | Nelspruit, South Africa | |
| 4 | 107.35 miles (172.77 km) W | Polokwane International Airport (PTG) | Polokwane, South Africa | |
| 5 | 163.34 miles (262.87 km) SSE | Maputo International Airport (MPM) | Maputo, Mozambique | |
| 6 | 179.36 miles (288.65 km) S | Matsapha Airport (MTS) | Manzini, Swaziland | |
| 7 | 204.15 miles (328.54 km) N | Buffalo Range Airport (BFO) | Chiredzi, Zimbabwe | |
| 8 | 218.77 miles (352.08 km) WSW | Wonderboom Airport (PRY) | Pretoria, South Africa | |
| 9 | 236.04 miles (379.87 km) SW | Grand Central Airport (GCJ) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 10 | 237.30 miles (381.89 km) SW | O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | |
| 11 | 245.04 miles (394.36 km) SW | Lanseria International Airport (HLA) | Lanseria, South Africa | |
| 12 | 246.38 miles (396.51 km) SW | Rand Airport (QRA) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 13 | 247.78 miles (398.76 km) SW | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| 14 | 268.03 miles (431.35 km) WSW | Pilanesberg International Airport (NTY) | Pilanesberg, South Africa | |
| 15 | 268.70 miles (432.43 km) E | Inhambane Airport (INH) | Inhambane, Mozambique | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,943.80 miles (19,221.63 km) NE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,930.01 miles (19,199.44 km) ENE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,922.09 miles (19,186.69 km) ENE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,921.16 miles (19,185.21 km) ENE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,913.28 miles (19,172.52 km) ENE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,908.90 miles (19,165.47 km) ENE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,896.48 miles (19,145.47 km) ENE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,891.63 miles (19,137.67 km) ENE | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,885.19 miles (19,127.31 km) ENE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,876.35 miles (19,113.09 km) ENE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,875.07 miles (19,111.02 km) ENE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,830.44 miles (19,039.20 km) ENE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,830.44 miles (19,039.20 km) ENE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,826.92 miles (19,033.54 km) ENE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,821.19 miles (19,024.31 km) ENE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |