Nonstop flight route between Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Colombo, Sri Lanka:
Departure Airport:
(34°44'43"N by 87°36'37"W)
Arrival Airport:
(7°10'51"N by 79°53'0"E)
Distance from MSL to CMB:
9,427.13 miles (15,171.47 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MSL Airport Information
- CMB Airport Information
- Facts about MSL
- Facts about CMB
- 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 CMB
- List of Nearest Airports to CMB
- Map of Furthest Airports from CMB
- List of Furthest Airports from CMB
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL), Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), Colombo, Sri Lanka would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,427 miles (or 15,171 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 Bandaranaike 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 Bandaranaike 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: | CMB / VCBI |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| GPS Coordinates: | 7°10'51"N by 79°53'0"E |
| Area Served: | Colombo |
| Operator/Owner: | Sri Lankan Government |
| Airport Type: | Public / Military |
| Elevation: | 26 feet (8 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from CMB |
| More Information: | CMB Maps & Info |
Facts about Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL):
- Pilot training at the airfield apparently ended on May 30, 1944, with the drawdown of AAFTC's pilot training program.
- 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.
- Currently, Muscle Shoals is served by Silver Airways with two daily flights to Atlanta.
- Prior to summer 2009, Muscle Shoals was served from Northwest Airlines' hub in Memphis via Northwest Airlink turboprop service operated by Mesaba Airlines.
- 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.
- Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL) has 2 runways.
- 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.
Facts about Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB):
- On 7 November 1971 the first Boeing 747 landing took place, the Boeing 747-200B was operated by Condor was carrying German tourists from Frankfurt.
- The closest airport to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is Ratmalana Airport (RML), which is located 25 miles (40 kilometers) S of CMB.
- In addition to being known as "Bandaranaike International Airport", another name for CMB is "බණ්ඩාරනායක ජාත්යන්තර ගුවන්තොටුපළபண்டாரநாயக்க பன்னாட்டு விமான நிலையம்".
- On 9 January 2012, an Airbus A380-800 operated by Emirates flight EK 413 from Sydney landed at Bandaranaike International Airport.
- Bandaranaike International Airport handled 7,328,798 passengers last year.
- Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) currently has only 1 runway.
- In 1964 Anil Moonesinghe, the Cabinet Minister of Communications, started the building of a new international airport to replace Ratmalana, with Canadian aid.
- Because of Bandaranaike International Airport's relatively low elevation of 26 feet, planes can take off or land at Bandaranaike 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 Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is Seymour Airport (GPS), which is located 11,614 miles (18,691 kilometers) away in Baltra Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.
- Under the Development Project Phase II Stage 2, a second passenger terminal and required utility for second terminal will be constructed.
| 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 | 24.81 miles (39.93 km) S | Ratmalana Airport (RML) | Ratmalana, Sri Lanka | |
| 2 | 85.92 miles (138.27 km) NNE | Anuradhapura Airport (ACJ) | Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka | |
| 3 | 87.34 miles (140.56 km) SSE | Koggala Airport (KCT) | Galle, Sri Lanka | |
| 4 | 105.07 miles (169.09 km) SE | Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) | Hambantota, Sri Lanka | |
| 5 | 112.63 miles (181.27 km) SE | Weerawila Airport (WRZ) | Weerawila, Sri Lanka | |
| 6 | 119.88 miles (192.94 km) E | Ampara Airport (ADP) | Ampara, Sri Lanka | |
| 7 | 128.11 miles (206.18 km) ENE | Batticaloa Airport (BTC) | Batticaloa, Sri Lanka | |
| 8 | 129.25 miles (208.00 km) NE | China Bay Airport (TRR) | Trincomalee, Sri Lanka | |
| 9 | 180.87 miles (291.08 km) N | Jaffna Airport (JAF) | Jaffna, Sri Lanka | |
| 10 | 220.49 miles (354.84 km) NNW | Madurai Airport (IXM) | Madurai, India | |
| 11 | 221.88 miles (357.08 km) WNW | Trivandrum International Airport (TRV) | Trivandrum, Kerala, India | |
| 12 | 260.27 miles (418.87 km) NNW | Tiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ) | Tiruchirapalli (Trichy), Tamil Nadu, India | |
| 13 | 314.83 miles (506.67 km) NW | Cochin International Airport (COK) | Nedumbassery near Kochi (Cochin), Kerala, India | |
| 14 | 328.90 miles (529.31 km) NW | Coimbatore International Airport (CJB) | Coimbatore, India | |
| 15 | 330.63 miles (532.09 km) N | Puducherry Airport (PNY) | Puducherry, India | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,614.20 miles (18,691.19 km) SW | Seymour Airport (GPS) | Baltra Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador | |
| 2 | 11,593.72 miles (18,658.24 km) WSW | San Cristóbal Airport (SCY) | San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador | |
| 3 | 11,128.12 miles (17,908.93 km) W | Cap. FAP Victor Montes Arias Airport (TYL) | Talara, Peru | |
| 4 | 11,090.52 miles (17,848.42 km) W | Cap. FAP Guillermo Concha Iberico International Airport (PIU) | Piura, Peru | |
| 5 | 11,075.96 miles (17,824.99 km) WSW | General Ulpiano Paez Airport (SNC) | Salinas, Ecuador | |
| 6 | 11,056.53 miles (17,793.72 km) W | Cap. FAP Pedro Canga Rodríguez Airport (TBP) | Tumbes, Peru | |
| 7 | 11,045.26 miles (17,775.57 km) W | Cap. FAP José A. Quiñones González International Airport (CIX) | Chiclayo, Peru | |
| 8 | 11,036.65 miles (17,761.71 km) W | José María Velasco Ibarra Airport (MRR) | Macará, Ecuador | |
| 9 | 11,030.26 miles (17,751.43 km) WSW | Eloy Alfaro International Airport (MEC) | Manta, Manabí, Ecuador | |
| 10 | 11,027.67 miles (17,747.26 km) W | Santa Rosa International Airport (ETR) | Santa Rosa, El Oro, Ecuador | |
| 11 | 11,018.75 miles (17,732.91 km) WSW | Reales Tamarindos Airport (PVO) | Portoviejo, Ecuador | |
| 12 | 11,001.39 miles (17,704.98 km) WSW | José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (GYE) | Santiago de Guayaquil, Ecuador | |
| 13 | 10,996.97 miles (17,697.87 km) W | Capitán FAP Carlos Martínez de Pinillos International Airport (TRU) | Trujillo, Peru | |
| 14 | 10,993.69 miles (17,692.59 km) W | Camilo Ponce Enriquez Airport (LOH) | Loja, Ecuador | |
| 15 | 10,954.29 miles (17,629.18 km) W | Mayor General FAP Armando Revoredo Iglesias (CJA) | Cajamarca, Peru | |