Nonstop flight route between Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Christchurch, New Zealand:
Departure Airport:
(34°44'43"N by 87°36'37"W)
Arrival Airport:
(43°29'21"S by 172°31'55"E)
Distance from MSL to CHC:
8,265.17 miles (13,301.47 km)
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- About this route
- MSL Airport Information
- CHC Airport Information
- Facts about MSL
- Facts about CHC
- 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 CHC
- List of Nearest Airports to CHC
- Map of Furthest Airports from CHC
- List of Furthest Airports from CHC
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL), Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Christchurch International Airport (CHC), Christchurch, New Zealand would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,265 miles (or 13,301 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 Christchurch 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 Northwest Alabama Regional Airport and Christchurch 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: | 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: | CHC / NZCH |
| Airport Name: | Christchurch International Airport |
| Location: | Christchurch, New Zealand |
| GPS Coordinates: | 43°29'21"S by 172°31'55"E |
| Area Served: | Christchurch |
| Operator/Owner: | Christchurch City Council (75%) NZ Government (25%) |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 123 feet (37 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 3 |
| View all routes: | Routes from CHC |
| More Information: | CHC Maps & Info |
Facts about Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL):
- Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL) has 2 runways.
- 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.
- As per the Federal Aviation Administration, this airport had 5,061 passenger boardings in calendar year 2008, 6,897 in 2009, and 8,680 in 2010.
- 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.
- 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.
- Currently, Muscle Shoals is served by Silver Airways with two daily flights to Atlanta.
- Pilot training at the airfield apparently ended on May 30, 1944, with the drawdown of AAFTC's pilot training program.
Facts about Christchurch International Airport (CHC):
- Development of the aerodrome at Harewood commenced in 1936.
- Because of Christchurch International Airport's relatively low elevation of 123 feet, planes can take off or land at Christchurch 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.
- The furthest airport from Christchurch International Airport (CHC) is A Coruña Airport (LCG), which is nearly antipodal to Christchurch International Airport (meaning Christchurch International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from A Coruña Airport), and is located 12,389 miles (19,939 kilometers) away in A Coruña, Spain.
- Christchurch International Airport handled 556,096 passengers last year.
- Stage 1 of the new terminal, including the new check-in hall, new food/retail precinct, new single domestic security screening, and the new regional departure lounge and baggage claim of the new terminal was completed in May 2011, allowing the old international check-in and the old domestic terminal north of the main pier to be demolished to make way for Stage 2.
- The size of the new integrated terminal at Christchurch Airport is 77,591m².
- The closest airport to Christchurch International Airport (CHC) is Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG), which is located 47 miles (75 kilometers) SW of CHC.
- Since the closure of Wigram Air Force Base, the Royal New Zealand Air Force always flies to Christchurch International Airport when required to visit the city.
- Christchurch International Airport (CHC) has 3 runways.
- Three different city bus routes service the airport.
- China Southern Airlines has stated it intends to start a Guangzhou to Christchurch service in the future.
- There are several general aviation organisations operating from the airport.
| 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 | 46.56 miles (74.93 km) SW | Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) | Ashburton, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 85.98 miles (138.36 km) SW | Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (TIU) | Timaru, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 91.30 miles (146.94 km) NE | Kaikoura Aerodrome (KBZ) | Kaikoura, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 94.67 miles (152.36 km) NW | Hokitika Airport (HKK) | Hokitika, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 98.21 miles (158.06 km) NW | Greymouth Airport (GMN) | Greymouth, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 121.37 miles (195.32 km) W | Mount Cook Airport (MON) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 123.49 miles (198.74 km) WSW | Glentanner Aerodrome (GTN) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 124.98 miles (201.14 km) SW | Oamaru Airport (OAM) | Oamaru, North Otago, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 125.97 miles (202.73 km) W | Fox Glacier Aerodrome (FGL) | Fox Glacier, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 130.32 miles (209.73 km) NNW | Westport Airport (WSZ) | Westport, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 152.29 miles (245.08 km) NNE | Woodbourne Airport (BHE) | Blenheim, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 155.42 miles (250.12 km) NNE | Nelson AirportTe Papa Waka Rererangi o Whakatū (NSN) | Nelson, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 165.18 miles (265.83 km) N | Motueka Aerodrome (MZP) | Motueka, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 179.20 miles (288.39 km) N | Takaka Aerodrome (KTF) | Takaka, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 183.94 miles (296.03 km) WSW | Wanaka Airport (WKA) | Wanaka, New Zealand | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,389.34 miles (19,938.66 km) ENE | A Coruña Airport (LCG) | A Coruña, Spain | |
| 2 | 12,373.89 miles (19,913.80 km) NE | Santiago de Compostela Airport (SCQ) | Santiago de Compostela, Spain | |
| 3 | 12,364.83 miles (19,899.21 km) W | Asturias Airport (OVD) | Oviedo, Asturias, Spain | |
| 4 | 12,331.77 miles (19,846.00 km) NE | Vigo Airport (VGO) | Vigo, Galicia, Spain | |
| 5 | 12,326.14 miles (19,836.95 km) WNW | León Airport (LEN) | León, Spain | |
| 6 | 12,317.56 miles (19,823.14 km) NNW | Bragança Airport (BGC) | Bragança, Portugal | |
| 7 | 12,296.25 miles (19,788.85 km) NNE | Braga Airport (BGZ) | Braga, Portugal | |
| 8 | 12,283.43 miles (19,768.21 km) N | Vila Real Airport (VRL) | Vila Real, Portugal | |
| 9 | 12,269.27 miles (19,745.42 km) NNE | Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) | Porto, Portugal | |
| 10 | 12,255.48 miles (19,723.23 km) NW | Valladolid International Airport (VLL) | Valladolid, Spain | |
| 11 | 12,253.81 miles (19,720.55 km) W | Santander Airport (SDR) | Santander, Cantabria, Spain | |
| 12 | 12,234.68 miles (19,689.77 km) NNW | Salamanca-Matacán Airport (SLM) | Salamanca, Spain | |
| 13 | 12,226.73 miles (19,676.96 km) WNW | Burgos Airport (RGS) | Burgos, Spain | |
| 14 | 12,213.99 miles (19,656.46 km) N | Covilhã Airport (COV) | Covilhã, Portugal | |
| 15 | 12,207.66 miles (19,646.28 km) W | Bilbao Airport (BIO) | Bilbao, Spain | |