Nonstop flight route between Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Mbala, Northern Province, Zambia:
Departure Airport:
(34°44'43"N by 87°36'37"W)
Arrival Airport:
(8°51'29"S by 31°19'59"E)
Distance from MSL to MMQ:
8,203.43 miles (13,202.11 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MSL Airport Information
- MMQ Airport Information
- Facts about MSL
- Facts about MMQ
- 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 MMQ
- List of Nearest Airports to MMQ
- Map of Furthest Airports from MMQ
- List of Furthest Airports from MMQ
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL), Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Mbala Airport (MMQ), Mbala, Northern Province, Zambia would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,203 miles (or 13,202 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 Mbala 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 Mbala 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: | MMQ / FLBA |
| Airport Name: | Mbala Airport |
| Location: | Mbala, Northern Province, Zambia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 8°51'29"S by 31°19'59"E |
| Area Served: | Mbala |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 5454 feet (1,662 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MMQ |
| More Information: | MMQ Maps & Info |
Facts about Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (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.
- Prior to summer 2009, Muscle Shoals was served from Northwest Airlines' hub in Memphis via Northwest Airlink turboprop service operated by Mesaba Airlines.
- 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.
- 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.
- Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL) has 2 runways.
- 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.
Facts about Mbala Airport (MMQ):
- Mbala Airport (MMQ) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Mbala Airport (MMQ) is Kasaba Bay Airport (ZKB), which is located 51 miles (83 kilometers) WNW of MMQ.
- The furthest airport from Mbala Airport (MMQ) is Cassidy International Airport (CXI), which is located 11,674 miles (18,788 kilometers) away in Christmas Island, Kiribati.
- Because of Mbala Airport's high elevation of 5,454 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at MMQ. Combined with a high temperature, this could make MMQ a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
| 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 | 51.37 miles (82.66 km) WNW | Kasaba Bay Airport (ZKB) | Kasaba Bay, Zambia | |
| 2 | 65.63 miles (105.61 km) NNE | Sumbawanga Airport (SUT) | Sumbawanga, Tanzania | |
| 3 | 94.84 miles (152.62 km) S | Kasama Airport (KAA) | Kasama, Zambia | |
| 4 | 145.39 miles (233.97 km) E | Mbeya Airport (MBI) | Mbeya, Tanzania | |
| 5 | 190.16 miles (306.03 km) ESE | Karonga Airport (KGJ) | Karonga, Malawi | |
| 6 | 204.97 miles (329.87 km) SE | Chelinda Airport (CEH) | Chelinda, Malawi | |
| 7 | 229.70 miles (369.67 km) SW | Mansa Airport (MNS) | Mansa, Luapula Province, Zambia | |
| 8 | 250.69 miles (403.45 km) NW | Kalemie Airport (FMI) | Kalemie, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 9 | 255.17 miles (410.65 km) SE | Mzuzu Airport (ZZU) | Mzuzu, Malawi | |
| 10 | 297.28 miles (478.43 km) NNW | Kigoma Airport (TKQ) | Kigoma, Tanzania | |
| 11 | 306.77 miles (493.69 km) S | Mfuwe Airport (MFU) | Mfuwe, Eastern Province, Zambia | |
| 12 | 313.09 miles (503.86 km) ENE | Iringa / Nduli Airport (IRI) | Iringa, Tanzania | |
| 13 | 320.14 miles (515.21 km) SW | Lubumbashi International Airport (FBM) | Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 14 | 321.60 miles (517.57 km) SSE | Kasungu Airport (KBQ) | Kasungu, Malawi | |
| 15 | 335.57 miles (540.05 km) SSE | Chipata Airport (CIP) | Chipata, Zambia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,674.09 miles (18,787.58 km) NE | Cassidy International Airport (CXI) | Christmas Island, Kiribati | |
| 2 | 11,573.58 miles (18,625.83 km) NNE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,543.71 miles (18,577.76 km) NNE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,537.72 miles (18,568.12 km) NNE | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,536.02 miles (18,565.38 km) NNE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,513.96 miles (18,529.87 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,477.61 miles (18,471.37 km) NNE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,457.19 miles (18,438.52 km) NNE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,444.87 miles (18,418.68 km) NNE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,444.84 miles (18,418.65 km) NNE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,419.83 miles (18,378.39 km) NNE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,418.68 miles (18,376.54 km) NNE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,378.23 miles (18,311.44 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,378.23 miles (18,311.44 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,373.10 miles (18,303.19 km) NE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |