Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(54°39'26"N by 6°12'56"W)
Distance from MER to BFS:
4,988.59 miles (8,028.33 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- BFS Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about BFS
- Map of Nearest Airports to MER
- List of Nearest Airports to MER
- Map of Furthest Airports from MER
- List of Furthest Airports from MER
- Map of Nearest Airports to BFS
- List of Nearest Airports to BFS
- Map of Furthest Airports from BFS
- List of Furthest Airports from BFS
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Belfast International Airport (BFS), Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,989 miles (or 8,028 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 Castle Airport and Belfast 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 Castle Airport and Belfast 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: | MER / KMER |
| Airport Name: | Castle Airport |
| Location: | Atwater, California, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Merced County Department of Commerce, Aviation, and Economic Development |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 191 feet (58 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MER |
| More Information: | MER Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | BFS / EGAA |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom |
| GPS Coordinates: | 54°39'26"N by 6°12'56"W |
| Area Served: | Belfast, United Kingdom |
| Operator/Owner: | ADC & HAS. |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 268 feet (82 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from BFS |
| More Information: | BFS Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- With its central location in the San Joaquin Valley, on the route of the proposed California High-Speed Rail system, and with a large, underdeveloped site, Castle Airport has been submitted as a possible location for the central maintenance facility for the system.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
- Castle Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.
- The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- In 2004, recommendations were made to relocate the 129th Rescue Wing of the California Air National Guard and its associated HC-130, MC-130 and HH-60 aircraft from Moffett Federal Airfield to the former Castle Air Force Base, now Castle Airport.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of Castle Airport's relatively low elevation of 191 feet, planes can take off or land at Castle 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.
Facts about Belfast International Airport (BFS):
- In addition to being known as "Belfast International Airport", another name for BFS is "Belfast/Aldergrove Airport".
- Because of Belfast International Airport's relatively low elevation of 268 feet, planes can take off or land at Belfast 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.
- A new International Pier was built together with lounge facilities and car parks, while an additional apron was provided to separate the smaller general aviation aircraft from large commercial jets.
- Belfast International Airport handled 4,023,336 passengers last year.
- A new terminal and apron were built with the necessary passenger facilities and the complex was opened by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother on 28 October 1963.
- The site for the airport was established in 1917 when it was selected to be a Royal Flying Corps training establishment during the First World War.
- The furthest airport from Belfast International Airport (BFS) is Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS), which is located 11,847 miles (19,065 kilometers) away in Stewart Island, New Zealand.
- Belfast International Airport (BFS) has 2 runways.
- In July 2011 easyJet announced its fourth London destination to London Southend.
- The closest airport to Belfast International Airport (BFS) is George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD), which is located only 14 miles (23 kilometers) E of BFS.
- In 1998 EasyJet started operations from the airport with flights to London Luton.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 7.26 miles (11.68 km) SSE | Merced Regional Airport (MCE) | Merced, California, United States |     |
| 2 | 27.12 miles (43.65 km) NW | Modesto City-County Airport (MOD) | Modesto, California, United States | |
| 3 | 27.51 miles (44.27 km) SW | Los Banos Municipal Airport (LSN) | Los Banos, California, United States | |
| 4 | 29.78 miles (47.92 km) W | NASA Crows Landing Airport (NRC) | Crows Landing, California, United States | |
| 5 | 36.91 miles (59.40 km) SE | Madera Municipal Airport (MAE) | Madera, California, United States | |
| 6 | 45.69 miles (73.53 km) N | Columbia Airport (COA) | Columbia, California, United States | |
| 7 | 51.03 miles (82.13 km) NW | Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK) | Stockton, California, United States | |
| 8 | 57.32 miles (92.24 km) SW | Hollister Municipal Airport (HLI) | Hollister, California, United States | |
| 9 | 60.88 miles (97.98 km) SE | Fresno Chandler Executive AirportChandler Municipal Airport (Old) (FCH) | Fresno, California, United States | |
| 10 | 62.71 miles (100.91 km) SE | Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) | Fresno, California, United States | |
| 11 | 68.82 miles (110.76 km) W | Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (RHV) | San Jose, California, United States | |
| 12 | 71.93 miles (115.77 km) WNW | Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK) | Livermore, California, United States | |
| 13 | 73.96 miles (119.02 km) WSW | Watsonville Municipal Airport (WVI) | Watsonville, California, United States | |
| 14 | 74.75 miles (120.29 km) W | Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) | San Jose, California, United States | |
| 15 | 75.76 miles (121.93 km) SW | Salinas Municipal AirportSalinas Army Air Base (SNS) | Salinas, California, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,311.72 miles (18,204.41 km) SE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 2 | 11,301.64 miles (18,188.18 km) SSE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 3 | 11,273.49 miles (18,142.87 km) SSE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 4 | 11,260.93 miles (18,122.66 km) S | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 5 | 11,205.02 miles (18,032.69 km) SE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 11,196.39 miles (18,018.79 km) SSW | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 7 | 11,137.28 miles (17,923.67 km) SSE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 11,111.96 miles (17,882.92 km) SE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 11,011.03 miles (17,720.49 km) SE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 11,008.37 miles (17,716.22 km) SE | Andavadoaka Airport (DVD) | Andavadoaka, Toliara province, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 10,993.21 miles (17,691.82 km) SE | Morombe Airport (MXM) | Morombe, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 10,972.89 miles (17,659.11 km) SSE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 10,963.56 miles (17,644.10 km) SSE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,945.21 miles (17,614.56 km) SE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 10,920.84 miles (17,575.35 km) SE | Belo sur Tsiribihina Airport (BMD) | Belo sur Tsiribihina, Madagascar | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 14.00 miles (22.53 km) E | George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD) | Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom | |
| 2 | 46.10 miles (74.19 km) NW | City of Derry Airport (LDY) | Derry, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom | |
| 3 | 57.80 miles (93.02 km) NNE | Campbeltown Airport (CAL) | Campbeltown, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 4 | 60.29 miles (97.03 km) WSW | Enniskillen/St Angelo Airport (ENK) | Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom | |
| 5 | 70.90 miles (114.10 km) N | Islay Airport (ILY) | Islay, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 6 | 75.38 miles (121.31 km) ESE | Isle of Man Airport (IOM) | Ronaldsway, Isle of Man, United Kingdom | |
| 7 | 85.44 miles (137.49 km) S | Dublin Airport (DUB) | Dublin, Ireland | |
| 8 | 87.04 miles (140.08 km) NE | Glasgow-Prestwick Airport (PIK) | Prestwick (near Glasgow), Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 9 | 88.66 miles (142.68 km) WNW | Donegal Airport (CFN) | Carrickfinn, Ireland | |
| 10 | 96.74 miles (155.68 km) N | Colonsay Airport (CSA) | Colonsay, Inner Hebrides, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 11 | 99.18 miles (159.61 km) WSW | Sligo Airport (SXL) | Strandhill (near Sligo), Ireland | |
| 12 | 109.39 miles (176.04 km) NE | Glasgow International Airport (GLA) | Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 13 | 116.98 miles (188.26 km) WSW | Ireland West Airport Knock (NOC) | Knock, Ireland | |
| 14 | 118.96 miles (191.44 km) SE | Anglesey Airport (HLY) | Anglesey, Wales, United Kingdom | |
| 15 | 124.10 miles (199.71 km) ESE | Barrow/Walney Island Airport (BWF) | Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,846.55 miles (19,065.13 km) SSE | Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS) | Stewart Island, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,818.96 miles (19,020.73 km) SSE | Invercargill Airport (IVC) | Invercargill, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,813.44 miles (19,011.84 km) SSE | Dunedin International Airport (DUD) | Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,756.83 miles (18,920.74 km) SSE | Oamaru Airport (OAM) | Oamaru, North Otago, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,755.66 miles (18,918.85 km) SSE | Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) | Alexandra, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,734.52 miles (18,884.83 km) SSE | Queenstown Airport (ZQN) | Queenstown, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,721.39 miles (18,863.70 km) SSE | Wanaka Airport (WKA) | Wanaka, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,712.32 miles (18,849.11 km) S | Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (TIU) | Timaru, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,699.48 miles (18,828.44 km) SSE | Milford Sound Airport (MFN) | Milford Sound, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,688.46 miles (18,810.70 km) S | Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) | Ashburton, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,676.20 miles (18,790.98 km) SSE | Glentanner Aerodrome (GTN) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,666.79 miles (18,775.83 km) SSE | Mount Cook Airport (MON) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,663.11 miles (18,769.92 km) S | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,645.01 miles (18,740.79 km) SSE | Fox Glacier Aerodrome (FGL) | Fox Glacier, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,601.91 miles (18,671.42 km) S | Hokitika Airport (HKK) | Hokitika, New Zealand | |