Nonstop flight route between Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Fairbanks, Alaska, United States:
Departure Airport:
(34°44'43"N by 87°36'37"W)
Arrival Airport:
(64°48'53"N by 147°51'23"W)
Distance from MSL to FAI:
3,207.78 miles (5,162.41 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MSL Airport Information
- FAI Airport Information
- Facts about MSL
- Facts about FAI
- 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 FAI
- List of Nearest Airports to FAI
- Map of Furthest Airports from FAI
- List of Furthest Airports from FAI
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL), Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Fairbanks International Airport (FAI), Fairbanks, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,208 miles (or 5,162 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 Fairbanks 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 Fairbanks 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: | FAI / PAFA |
| Airport Name: | Fairbanks International Airport |
| Location: | Fairbanks, Alaska, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 64°48'53"N by 147°51'23"W |
| Area Served: | Fairbanks, Alaska |
| Operator/Owner: | State of Alaska DOT&PF |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 434 feet (132 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 4 |
| View all routes: | Routes from FAI |
| More Information: | FAI Maps & Info |
Facts about Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL):
- Northwest Alabama Regional Airport is a public-use airport in Colbert County, Alabama, United States.
- 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.
- 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.
- Pilot training at the airfield apparently ended on May 30, 1944, with the drawdown of AAFTC's pilot training program.
Facts about Fairbanks International Airport (FAI):
- The furthest airport from Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) is Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), which is located 10,289 miles (16,558 kilometers) away in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
- Pan Am eventually used Fairbanks as a stopover for transpacific service from New York and Seattle to Tokyo starting in September 1969.
- The closest airport to Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) is Ladd Army Airfield (FBK), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) ENE of FAI.
- Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) has 4 runways.
- Because of Fairbanks International Airport's relatively low elevation of 434 feet, planes can take off or land at Fairbanks 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.
- In September 2013 there were two incidents of vehicular trespass onto its taxiway and runways, by users unknowingly following Apple Map's errant directions to Fairbanks International 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 | 7.28 miles (11.71 km) ENE | Ladd Army Airfield (FBK) | Fairbanks / Fort Wainwright, Alaska, United States | |
| 2 | 24.54 miles (39.49 km) ESE | Eielson Air Force Base (EIL) | Fairbanks, Alaska, United States | |
| 3 | 40.45 miles (65.10 km) WSW | Nenana Municipal Airport (ENN) | Nenana, Alaska, United States | |
| 4 | 49.82 miles (80.18 km) WNW | Minto Al Wright Airport (MNT) | Minto, Alaska, United States | |
| 5 | 81.20 miles (130.68 km) SSW | McKinley National Park Airport (MCL) | McKinley Park, Alaska, United States | |
| 6 | 81.77 miles (131.59 km) NW | Rampart Airport (RMP) | Rampart, Alaska, United States | |
| 7 | 82.65 miles (133.01 km) W | Manley Hot Springs Airport (MLY) | Manley Hot Springs, Alaska, United States | |
| 8 | 82.81 miles (133.27 km) SE | Delta Junction Airport (DJN) | Delta Junction, Alaska, United States | |
| 9 | 85.28 miles (137.25 km) SE | Allen Army Airfield (BIG) | Fort Greely, Delta Junction, Alaska, United States | |
| 10 | 89.90 miles (144.68 km) NNW | Stevens Village Airport (SVS) | Stevens Village, Alaska, United States | |
| 11 | 95.72 miles (154.05 km) NW | Five Mile Airport (FMC) | Five Mile, Alaska, United States | |
| 12 | 103.41 miles (166.43 km) ENE | Central Airport (CEM) | Central, Alaska, United States | |
| 13 | 104.99 miles (168.97 km) ENE | Circle Hot Springs Airport (CHP) | Circle Hot Springs, Alaska, United States | |
| 14 | 107.67 miles (173.28 km) N | Beaver Airport (WBQ) | Beaver, Alaska, United States | |
| 15 | 109.46 miles (176.15 km) SSW | Summit Airport (UMM) | Summit, Alaska, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,289.00 miles (16,558.49 km) S | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 2 | 10,268.99 miles (16,526.29 km) SSE | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 3 | 10,265.50 miles (16,520.68 km) S | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 4 | 10,233.40 miles (16,469.02 km) S | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 5 | 10,230.95 miles (16,465.07 km) SSE | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Cape Town, South Africa | |
| 6 | 10,133.37 miles (16,308.04 km) S | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 7 | 10,089.42 miles (16,237.30 km) S | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 8 | 10,019.05 miles (16,124.06 km) S | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 9 | 10,013.68 miles (16,115.42 km) S | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 10,008.87 miles (16,107.68 km) S | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 11 | 10,008.26 miles (16,106.69 km) S | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 12 | 10,005.72 miles (16,102.61 km) S | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 13 | 10,004.42 miles (16,100.51 km) S | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 14 | 9,986.04 miles (16,070.93 km) S | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 9,978.05 miles (16,058.08 km) S | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |