Nonstop flight route between Anchorage, Alaska, United States and Airlie Beach, Australia:
Departure Airport:

Arrival Airport:

Distance from MRI to WSY:
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- About this route
- MRI Airport Information
- WSY Airport Information
- Facts about MRI
- Facts about WSY
- Map of Nearest Airports to MRI
- List of Nearest Airports to MRI
- Map of Furthest Airports from MRI
- List of Furthest Airports from MRI
- Map of Nearest Airports to WSY
- List of Nearest Airports to WSY
- Map of Furthest Airports from WSY
- List of Furthest Airports from WSY
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Merrill Field (MRI), Anchorage, Alaska, United States and Whitsunday Airport (WSY), Airlie Beach, Australia would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,565 miles (or 10,566 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 Merrill Field and Whitsunday 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 Merrill Field and Whitsunday Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | MRI / PAMR |
Airport Name: | Merrill Field |
Location: | Anchorage, Alaska, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 61°12'48"N by 149°50'39"W |
Operator/Owner: | Municipality of Anchorage |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 137 feet (42 meters) |
# of Runways: | 3 |
View all routes: | Routes from MRI |
More Information: | MRI Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | WSY / YWHI |
Airport Names: |
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Location: | Airlie Beach, Australia |
GPS Coordinates: | 20°16'36"S by 148°45'19"E |
Operator/Owner: | Jeffrey Ruddell |
Airport Type: | Private |
Elevation: | 40 feet (12 meters) |
# of Runways: | 1 |
View all routes: | Routes from WSY |
More Information: | WSY Maps & Info |
Facts about Merrill Field (MRI):
- This was the first official airport in Anchorage when it opened in 1930.
- Merrill Field (MRI) has 3 runways.
- The airstrip is still in use today as the primary field for private wheel equipped aircraft in the warmer months and for ski equipped in the winter.
- Because of Merrill Field's relatively low elevation of 137 feet, planes can take off or land at Merrill Field 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.
- Merrill Field is home to the University of Alaska Anchorage's Aviation Technology Division, as well as two locally-owned flight schools, air taxi services, and fixed base operators.
- The closest airport to Merrill Field (MRI) is Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF), which is located only 3 miles (5 kilometers) NNE of MRI.
- The furthest airport from Merrill Field (MRI) is Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), which is located 10,545 miles (16,970 kilometers) away in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Facts about Whitsunday Airport (WSY):
- Whitsunday Airport (WSY) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Whitsunday Airport (WSY) is Agostinho Neto Airport (NTO), which is located 11,982 miles (19,283 kilometers) away in Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, Cape Verde.
- Because of Whitsunday Airport's relatively low elevation of 40 feet, planes can take off or land at Whitsunday 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 Whitsunday Airport (WSY) is Great Barrier Reef Airport (HTI), which is located only 14 miles (22 kilometers) ESE of WSY.
- In addition to being known as "Whitsunday Airport", another name for WSY is "Shute Harbour Airport".