Nonstop flight route between Memphis, Tennessee, United States and Cape Town, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(35°2'32"N by 89°58'36"W)
Arrival Airport:
(33°58'9"S by 18°35'49"E)
Distance from MEM to CPT:
8,463.02 miles (13,619.88 km)
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- About this route
- MEM Airport Information
- CPT Airport Information
- Facts about MEM
- Facts about CPT
- Map of Nearest Airports to MEM
- List of Nearest Airports to MEM
- Map of Furthest Airports from MEM
- List of Furthest Airports from MEM
- 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 Memphis International Airport (MEM), Memphis, Tennessee, United States and Cape Town International Airport (CPT), Cape Town, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,463 miles (or 13,620 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 Memphis International 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 Memphis International 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: | MEM / KMEM |
| Airport Name: | Memphis International Airport |
| Location: | Memphis, Tennessee, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 35°2'32"N by 89°58'36"W |
| Area Served: | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 341 feet (104 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 4 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MEM |
| More Information: | MEM 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 Memphis International Airport (MEM):
- Currently, only domestic flights are available for passengers.
- Because of Memphis International Airport's relatively low elevation of 341 feet, planes can take off or land at Memphis 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.
- Memphis International Airport is home to the FedEx Express global hub, which processes many of the company's packages.
- Memphis International Airport (MEM) has 4 runways.
- Memphis International Airport handled 7,874,888 passengers last year.
- Memphis is ranked the 41st busiest US airport by enplanements with 4,598,186 passengers using the airport in 2013, a 32% decrease from the previous year.
- Since 2009 the airport has been a small hub for small regional airline SeaPort Airlines, which has single-engine flights to communities in Arkansas through the Essential Air Service program.
- The closest airport to Memphis International Airport (MEM) is Olive Branch Airport (OLV), which is located only 12 miles (19 kilometers) ESE of MEM.
- The furthest airport from Memphis International Airport (MEM) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,010 miles (17,719 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
Facts about Cape Town International Airport (CPT):
- With the fall of apartheid in the early 1990s, ownership of the airport was transferred from the state to the newly formed Airports Company South Africa, and the airport was renamed to the politically neutral Cape Town International Airport.
- The only hotel located within the airport precinct is the budget Road Lodge, owned by the City Lodge hotel chain group.
- Arriving passengers collect luggage in the old sections of their respective terminals, before proceeding through new passageways to the new Central Terminal Building.
- 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.
- 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 (CPT) has 2 runways.
- The closest airport to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is George Airport (GRJ), which is located 217 miles (349 kilometers) E of CPT.
- The following is an example of information required by aircrew to operate at this airport.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11.60 miles (18.67 km) ESE | Olive Branch Airport (OLV) | Olive Branch, Mississippi, United States |     |
| 2 | 15.91 miles (25.61 km) WNW | West Memphis Municipal Airport (AWM) | West Memphis, Arkansas, United States | |
| 3 | 22.52 miles (36.25 km) NNE | Millington Regional Jetport (NQA) | Millington, Tennessee, United States | |
| 4 | 32.45 miles (52.22 km) SW | Tunica Municipal Airport (UTM) | Tunica, Mississippi, United States | |
| 5 | 45.72 miles (73.58 km) W | Forrest City Municipal Airport (FCY) | Forrest City, Arkansas, United States | |
| 6 | 51.09 miles (82.22 km) SW | Thompson-Robbins AirportThompson-Robbins Army Airfield (HEE) | Helena / West Helena, Arkansas, United States | |
| 7 | 51.88 miles (83.50 km) SSE | University-Oxford Airport (UOX) | Oxford, Mississippi, United States | |
| 8 | 59.67 miles (96.02 km) SSW | Fletcher Field (CKM) | Clarksdale, Mississippi, United States | |
| 9 | 59.71 miles (96.09 km) N | Manila Municipal Airport (MXA) | Manila, Arkansas, United States | |
| 10 | 62.59 miles (100.73 km) N | Blytheville Municipal Airport (HKA) | Blytheville, Arkansas, United States | |
| 11 | 63.73 miles (102.56 km) N | Arkansas International Airport (BYH) | Blytheville, Arkansas, United States | |
| 12 | 66.29 miles (106.68 km) NW | Jonesboro Municipal Airport (JBR) | Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States | |
| 13 | 71.14 miles (114.48 km) ENE | McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport (MKL) | Jackson, Tennessee, United States | |
| 14 | 76.66 miles (123.37 km) NNW | Kirk Field (PGR) | Paragould, Arkansas, United States | |
| 15 | 78.23 miles (125.90 km) E | Roscoe Turner Airport (CRX) | Corinth, Mississippi, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,010.34 miles (17,719.38 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 10,990.32 miles (17,687.16 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 10,970.51 miles (17,655.28 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 10,956.28 miles (17,632.39 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,955.67 miles (17,631.40 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,948.82 miles (17,620.37 km) W | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,938.60 miles (17,603.92 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,930.92 miles (17,591.56 km) W | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,930.74 miles (17,591.28 km) W | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,924.14 miles (17,580.66 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,903.40 miles (17,547.28 km) WSW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,876.81 miles (17,504.48 km) W | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,869.19 miles (17,492.22 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,867.85 miles (17,490.06 km) W | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,863.26 miles (17,482.69 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 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 | |