Nonstop flight route between Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Niuafo'ou, Tonga:
Departure Airport:
(34°44'43"N by 87°36'37"W)
Arrival Airport:
(15°34'15"S by 175°37'50"W)
Distance from MSL to NFO:
6,717.13 miles (10,810.14 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- MSL Airport Information
- NFO Airport Information
- Facts about MSL
- Facts about NFO
- 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 NFO
- List of Nearest Airports to NFO
- Map of Furthest Airports from NFO
- List of Furthest Airports from NFO
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL), Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Mata'aho Airport (NFO), Niuafo'ou, Tonga would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,717 miles (or 10,810 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 Mata'aho 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 Mata'aho 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: | NFO / NFTO |
| Airport Name: | Mata'aho Airport |
| Location: | Niuafo'ou, Tonga |
| GPS Coordinates: | 15°34'15"S by 175°37'50"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Ministry of Civil Aviation |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| View all routes: | Routes from NFO |
| More Information: | NFO Maps & Info |
Facts about Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL):
- Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL) has 2 runways.
- Northwest Alabama Regional Airport is a public-use airport in Colbert County, Alabama, United States.
- The airport was opened in February 1940, however in 1942 it was taken over by the United States Army Air Forces as a World War II pilot training military airfield.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Facts about Mata'aho Airport (NFO):
- The furthest airport from Mata'aho Airport (NFO) is Tahoua Airport (THZ), which is nearly antipodal to Mata'aho Airport (meaning Mata'aho Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Tahoua Airport), and is located 12,360 miles (19,892 kilometers) away in Tahoua, Niger.
- The closest airport to Mata'aho Airport (NFO) is Wallis Island (WLS), which is located 164 miles (263 kilometers) NNW of NFO.
| 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 | 163.69 miles (263.43 km) NNW | Wallis Island (WLS) | Wallis and Futuna Islands | |
| 2 | 184.40 miles (296.77 km) WNW | Aéroport de Futuna - Pointe-Vele Pointe Vele Airport (FUT) | Futuna Island, Wallis and Futuna Islands | |
| 3 | 246.40 miles (396.54 km) NE | Asau Airport (AAU) | Asau, Samoa | |
| 4 | 258.42 miles (415.89 km) ENE | Maota (Salelologa) Airport (MXS) | Maota, Samoa | |
| 5 | 270.34 miles (435.06 km) ENE | Faleolo International Airport (APW) | Apia, Upolu Island, Samoa | |
| 6 | 285.85 miles (460.04 km) ENE | Fagali'i Airport (FGI) | Apia, Samoa | |
| 7 | 287.85 miles (463.24 km) WSW | Cicia Airport (ICI) | Cicia, Fiji | |
| 8 | 302.72 miles (487.18 km) SSE | Lifuka Island Airport (HPA) | Lifuka, Ha'apai, Tonga | |
| 9 | 339.68 miles (546.66 km) W | Labasa Airport (LBS) | Labasa, Fiji | |
| 10 | 341.03 miles (548.83 km) ENE | Pago Pago International Airport (PPG) | Pago Pago, American Samoa | |
| 11 | 349.97 miles (563.23 km) WSW | Koro Airport (KXF) | Koro Island, Fiji | |
| 12 | 357.73 miles (575.71 km) SW | Moala Airport (MFJ) | Moala, Moala Islands, Fiji | |
| 13 | 393.03 miles (632.51 km) S | Fuaʻamotu International Airport (TBU) | Nukuʻalofa, Tongatapu, Tonga | |
| 14 | 399.73 miles (643.30 km) WSW | Levuka Airfield (LEV) | Bureta, Ovalau Island, Fiji | |
| 15 | 409.39 miles (658.85 km) ENE | Ofu Airport (OFU) | Ofu, American Samoa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,360.39 miles (19,892.07 km) NW | Tahoua Airport (THZ) | Tahoua, Niger | |
| 2 | 12,230.72 miles (19,683.39 km) NE | Diori Hamani International Airport (NIM) | Niamey, Niger | |
| 3 | 12,204.15 miles (19,640.62 km) NW | Maradi Airport (MFQ) | Maradi, Niger | |
| 4 | 12,177.41 miles (19,597.59 km) WNW | Mano Dayak International Airport (AJY) | Agadez, Niger | |
| 5 | 12,148.33 miles (19,550.79 km) NE | Kantchari Airport (XKA) | Kantchari, Burkina Faso | |
| 6 | 12,146.55 miles (19,547.93 km) NNW | In Guezzam Airport (INF) | In Guezzam, Algeria | |
| 7 | 12,143.21 miles (19,542.55 km) E | Tambao Airport (TMQ) | Tambao, Burkina Faso | |
| 8 | 12,143.11 miles (19,542.39 km) E | Gao International Airport (GAQ) | Gao, Mali | |
| 9 | 12,139.82 miles (19,537.10 km) ENE | Sebba Airport (XSE) | Sebba, Burkina Faso | |
| 10 | 12,139.49 miles (19,536.57 km) NW | Arlit Airport (RLT) | Arlit, Niger | |
| 11 | 12,138.66 miles (19,535.22 km) NE | Diapaga Airport (DIP) | Diapaga, Burkina Faso | |
| 12 | 12,121.89 miles (19,508.25 km) ENE | Dori Airport (DOR) | Dori, Burkina Faso | |
| 13 | 12,121.15 miles (19,507.05 km) ENE | Gorom Gorom Airport (XGG) | Gorom Gorom, Burkina Faso | |
| 14 | 12,116.27 miles (19,499.20 km) NNE | Kandi Airport (KDC) | Kandi, Benin | |
| 15 | 12,104.44 miles (19,480.17 km) WNW | Zinder Airport (ZND) | Zinder, Niger | |