Nonstop flight route between Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Port Alfred, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(34°44'43"N by 87°36'37"W)
Arrival Airport:
(33°33'15"S by 26°52'46"E)
Distance from MSL to AFD:
8,760.30 miles (14,098.30 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MSL Airport Information
- AFD Airport Information
- Facts about MSL
- Facts about AFD
- Map of Nearest Airports to MSL
- List of Nearest Airports to MSL
- Map of Furthest Airports from MSL
- List of Furthest Airports from MSL
- Map of Nearest Airports to AFD
- List of Nearest Airports to AFD
- Map of Furthest Airports from AFD
- List of Furthest Airports from AFD
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL), Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Port Alfred Airport (AFD), Port Alfred, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,760 miles (or 14,098 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 Northwest Alabama Regional Airport and Port Alfred 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 Northwest Alabama Regional Airport and Port Alfred Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | MSL / KMSL |
| Airport Name: | Northwest Alabama Regional Airport |
| Location: | Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 34°44'43"N by 87°36'37"W |
| Area Served: | Muscle Shoals, Alabama |
| Operator/Owner: | Colbert & Lauderdale Counties |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 551 feet (168 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MSL |
| More Information: | MSL Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | AFD / FAPA |
| Airport Name: | Port Alfred Airport |
| Location: | Port Alfred, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 33°33'15"S by 26°52'46"E |
| Area Served: | Port Alfred, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 272 feet (83 meters) |
| View all routes: | Routes from AFD |
| More Information: | AFD Maps & Info |
Facts about Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL):
- The closest airport to Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL) is Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU), which is located 38 miles (62 kilometers) E of MSL.
- Because of Northwest Alabama Regional Airport's relatively low elevation of 551 feet, planes can take off or land at Northwest Alabama Regional 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.
- Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL) has 2 runways.
- The furthest airport from Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,143 miles (17,932 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- Prior to summer 2009, Muscle Shoals was served from Northwest Airlines' hub in Memphis via Northwest Airlink turboprop service operated by Mesaba Airlines.
Facts about Port Alfred Airport (AFD):
- Because of Port Alfred Airport's relatively low elevation of 272 feet, planes can take off or land at Port Alfred 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 Port Alfred Airport (AFD) is East London Airport (ELS), which is located 65 miles (105 kilometers) ENE of AFD.
- The furthest airport from Port Alfred Airport (AFD) is Princeville Airport (HPV), which is located 11,563 miles (18,610 kilometers) away in Hanalei, Hawaii, United States.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 38.30 miles (61.63 km) E | Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU) | Decatur, Alabama, United States |     |
| 2 | 48.04 miles (77.31 km) E | Huntsville International Airport (HSV) | Huntsville / Decatur, Alabama, United States | |
| 3 | 48.69 miles (78.35 km) SSW | Marion County - Rankin Fite Airport (HAB) | Hamilton, Alabama, United States | |
| 4 | 52.77 miles (84.92 km) E | Redstone Army Airfield (AAF) (HUA) | Redstone Arsenal (near Huntsville), Alabama, United States | |
| 5 | 57.54 miles (92.61 km) WNW | Roscoe Turner Airport (CRX) | Corinth, Mississippi, United States | |
| 6 | 60.98 miles (98.14 km) NNE | Maury County Airport (MRC) | Columbia/Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, United States | |
| 7 | 63.15 miles (101.63 km) ENE | Fayetteville Municipal Airport (FYM) | Fayetteville, Tennessee, United States | |
| 8 | 73.81 miles (118.78 km) WSW | Tupelo Regional Airport (TUP) | Tupelo, Mississippi, United States | |
| 9 | 76.02 miles (122.34 km) N | Centerville Municipal Airport (GHM) | Centerville, Tennessee, United States | |
| 10 | 86.70 miles (139.52 km) NE | Shelbyville Municipal Airport (SYI) | Shelbyville, Tennessee, United States | |
| 11 | 88.71 miles (142.77 km) ENE | Tullahoma Regional Airport (THA) | Tullahoma, Tennessee, United States | |
| 12 | 89.78 miles (144.49 km) SSW | Columbus Air Force Base (CBM) | Columbus, Mississippi, United States | |
| 13 | 94.44 miles (151.99 km) NW | McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport (MKL) | Jackson, Tennessee, United States | |
| 14 | 95.23 miles (153.26 km) SSE | Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) | Birmingham, Alabama, United States | |
| 15 | 98.80 miles (159.01 km) SSW | Columbus-Lowndes County Airport (UBS) | Columbus, Mississippi, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,142.65 miles (17,932.31 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,122.93 miles (17,900.57 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,103.49 miles (17,869.29 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,090.79 miles (17,848.85 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,087.23 miles (17,843.13 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,084.36 miles (17,838.50 km) W | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,072.96 miles (17,820.15 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,066.34 miles (17,809.50 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,065.40 miles (17,807.98 km) W | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,059.28 miles (17,798.14 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,036.88 miles (17,762.10 km) WSW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,012.40 miles (17,722.70 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,003.51 miles (17,708.39 km) W | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,999.24 miles (17,701.51 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,995.36 miles (17,695.27 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 65.15 miles (104.85 km) ENE | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 2 | 78.75 miles (126.73 km) WSW | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 3 | 173.72 miles (279.57 km) NE | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 4 | 260.21 miles (418.77 km) N | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 5 | 260.23 miles (418.80 km) W | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 6 | 265.94 miles (427.99 km) NNE | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 7 | 273.77 miles (440.59 km) NNE | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 8 | 275.03 miles (442.62 km) NE | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 9 | 276.45 miles (444.91 km) NNE | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 285.49 miles (459.45 km) N | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 11 | 310.04 miles (498.96 km) N | Bloemfontein International Airport (BFN) | Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa | |
| 12 | 322.25 miles (518.62 km) NNE | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 13 | 331.95 miles (534.23 km) NNE | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 14 | 340.19 miles (547.48 km) NE | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 15 | 351.36 miles (565.46 km) NNW | Kimberley Airport (KIM) | Kimberley, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,563.45 miles (18,609.52 km) NNE | Princeville Airport (HPV) | Hanalei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,553.29 miles (18,593.17 km) NNE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,552.04 miles (18,591.16 km) NNE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,551.61 miles (18,590.47 km) NNE | Lihue Airport (LIH) | Lihue, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,550.42 miles (18,588.55 km) NNE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,546.12 miles (18,581.63 km) NNE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,542.55 miles (18,575.88 km) NNE | PMRF Barking Sands (BKH) | Kekaha, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,541.92 miles (18,574.88 km) NNE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,541.92 miles (18,574.88 km) NNE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,540.08 miles (18,571.91 km) NNE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,539.63 miles (18,571.20 km) NNE | Port Allen Airport (PAK) | Hanapepe, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,539.21 miles (18,570.52 km) NNE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,538.17 miles (18,568.85 km) NNE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,537.62 miles (18,567.96 km) NNE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,523.91 miles (18,545.89 km) NNE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |