Nonstop flight route between Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Hao, Tuamotu Island, French Polynesia:
Departure Airport:
(34°44'43"N by 87°36'37"W)
Arrival Airport:
(18°4'28"S by 140°56'44"W)
Distance from MSL to HOI:
5,055.20 miles (8,135.54 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MSL Airport Information
- HOI Airport Information
- Facts about MSL
- Facts about HOI
- 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 HOI
- List of Nearest Airports to HOI
- Map of Furthest Airports from HOI
- List of Furthest Airports from HOI
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL), Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Hao Airport (HOI), Hao, Tuamotu Island, French Polynesia would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,055 miles (or 8,136 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 Hao 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 Hao 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: | HOI / NTTO |
| Airport Name: | Hao Airport |
| Location: | Hao, Tuamotu Island, French Polynesia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 18°4'28"S by 140°56'44"W |
| Area Served: | Hao Island |
| Operator/Owner: | DSEAC Polynésie Française |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from HOI |
| More Information: | HOI Maps & Info |
Facts about Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (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.
- Pilot training at the airfield apparently ended on May 30, 1944, with the drawdown of AAFTC's pilot training program.
- Historically, Muscle Shoals was served by Southern Airways which operated Douglas DC-9-10 and DC-9-30 jetliners on nonstop and direct flights to Atlanta.
- 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.
- Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL) has 2 runways.
Facts about Hao Airport (HOI):
- The closest airport to Hao Airport (HOI) is Fangatau Airport (FGU), which is located 156 miles (251 kilometers) N of HOI.
- The furthest airport from Hao Airport (HOI) is Port Sudan New International Airport (PZU), which is nearly antipodal to Hao Airport (meaning Hao Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Port Sudan New International Airport), and is located 12,285 miles (19,771 kilometers) away in Port Sudan, Sudan.
- Hao Airport (HOI) currently has only 1 runway.
| 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 | 155.85 miles (250.82 km) N | Fangatau Airport (FGU) | Fangatau, French Polynesia | |
| 2 | 165.04 miles (265.60 km) ESE | Nukutavake Airport (NUK) | Nukutavake, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 3 | 172.79 miles (278.08 km) NW | Raroia Airport (RRR) | Raroia, French Polynesia | |
| 4 | 206.08 miles (331.65 km) WNW | Makemo Airport (MKP) | Makemo, French Polynesia | |
| 5 | 242.44 miles (390.17 km) SE | Tureira Airport (ZTA) | Tureia, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 6 | 258.35 miles (415.77 km) E | Pukarua Airport (PUK) | Pukarua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 7 | 304.70 miles (490.36 km) W | Anaa Airport (AAA) | Anaa, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 8 | 341.03 miles (548.84 km) WNW | Fakarava Airport (FAV) | Fakarava, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 9 | 400.80 miles (645.02 km) WNW | Apataki Airport (APK) | Apataki, French Polynesia | |
| 10 | 422.69 miles (680.25 km) NW | Manihi Airport (XMH) | Manihi, French Polynesia | |
| 11 | 423.35 miles (681.31 km) WNW | Arutua Airport (AXR) | Arutua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 12 | 433.06 miles (696.94 km) NW | Ahe Airport (AHE) | Ahe, French Polynesia | |
| 13 | 522.81 miles (841.39 km) SE | Totegegie Airport (GMR) | Mangareva, Gambier Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 14 | 560.03 miles (901.28 km) WNW | Mataiva Airport (MVT) | Mataiva, French Polynesia | |
| 15 | 571.09 miles (919.08 km) W | Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT) | Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,285.16 miles (19,771.01 km) NE | Port Sudan New International Airport (PZU) | Port Sudan, Sudan | |
| 2 | 12,270.27 miles (19,747.04 km) N | Massawa International Airport (MSW) | Massawa, Eritrea | |
| 3 | 12,244.29 miles (19,705.22 km) N | Asmara International Airport (ASM) | Asmara, Eritrea | |
| 4 | 12,208.99 miles (19,648.42 km) NW | Al-Baha Domestic Airport (ABT) | Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia | |
| 5 | 12,200.01 miles (19,633.97 km) W | Abha Regional Airport (AHB) | Abha / Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia | |
| 6 | 12,187.65 miles (19,614.07 km) N | King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | |
| 7 | 12,182.21 miles (19,605.32 km) NNW | Ta'if Regional Airport (TIF) | Ta'if, Saudi Arabia | |
| 8 | 12,177.96 miles (19,598.48 km) NE | Kassala Airport (KSL) | Kassala, Sudan | |
| 9 | 12,169.09 miles (19,584.20 km) WNW | Bisha Domestic Airport (BHH) | Bisha, Saudi Arabia | |
| 10 | 12,164.10 miles (19,576.17 km) N | Axum Emperor Yohannes IV Airport (AXU) | Axum, Ethiopia | |
| 11 | 12,134.11 miles (19,527.91 km) NE | Khashm El Girba Airport (GBU) | Khashm El Girba, Sudan | |
| 12 | 12,116.86 miles (19,500.15 km) N | Alula Aba Nega Airport (MQX) | Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia | |
| 13 | 12,109.96 miles (19,489.05 km) NNE | Humera Airport (HUE) | Humera, Ethiopia | |
| 14 | 12,107.27 miles (19,484.71 km) E | Atbara Airport (ATB) | Atbara, Sudan | |
| 15 | 12,090.07 miles (19,457.03 km) NW | Hodeida International Airport (HOD) | Al Hudaydah (Hodeida), Yemen | |