Nonstop flight route between Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Plovdiv, Bulgaria:
Departure Airport:
(34°44'43"N by 87°36'37"W)
Arrival Airport:
(42°4'4"N by 24°51'52"E)
Distance from MSL to PDV:
5,627.65 miles (9,056.81 km)
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- About this route
- MSL Airport Information
- PDV Airport Information
- Facts about MSL
- Facts about PDV
- 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 PDV
- List of Nearest Airports to PDV
- Map of Furthest Airports from PDV
- List of Furthest Airports from PDV
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL), Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Plovdiv Airport (PDV), Plovdiv, Bulgaria would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,628 miles (or 9,057 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 Plovdiv 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 Plovdiv 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: | PDV / LBPD |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Plovdiv, Bulgaria |
| GPS Coordinates: | 42°4'4"N by 24°51'52"E |
| Area Served: | Plovdiv |
| Operator/Owner: | Letishte Plovdiv EAD |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 597 feet (182 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PDV |
| More Information: | PDV Maps & Info |
Facts about Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (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.
- 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.
- Prior to summer 2009, Muscle Shoals was served from Northwest Airlines' hub in Memphis via Northwest Airlink turboprop service operated by Mesaba Airlines.
- 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.
- Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL) has 2 runways.
- 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.
Facts about Plovdiv Airport (PDV):
- The closest airport to Plovdiv Airport (PDV) is Haskovo Malevo Airport (HKV), which is located 38 miles (61 kilometers) E of PDV.
- Plovdiv Airport is the airport of the second largest city in Bulgaria, Plovdiv.
- On 13 September 1965 a new terminal building was opened, and next year an enlarged tarmac was put into use in time for winter season charter traffic.
- On 2 October 1947, the regional newspaper "Fatherland Voice" reported that over a period of 45 days 1,500 passengers were carried, noting that the flights were always on time.
- The beginning of civil aviation at Plovdiv came with the first test flight between Sofia-Plovdiv-Yambol and Burgas early in 1928.
- In addition to being known as "Plovdiv Airport", other names for PDV include "Krumovo Airport" and "Летище Пловдив".
- Because of Plovdiv Airport's relatively low elevation of 597 feet, planes can take off or land at Plovdiv 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.
- On the west side of the airport is located 24th Helicopter Air Base of the Bulgarian Air Force, with Eurocopter AS 532, Mil Mi-24, Mil Mi-17 and Bell 206 units.
- The furthest airport from Plovdiv Airport (PDV) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is located 11,355 miles (18,273 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
- Plovdiv Airport handled 8,752 passengers last year.
- The new passenger terminal building was officially opened on 1 July 2009.
- Plovdiv Airport (PDV) 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 | 37.75 miles (60.75 km) E | Haskovo Malevo Airport (HKV) | Haskovo, Bulgaria | |
| 2 | 45.74 miles (73.60 km) ENE | Stara Zagora Airport (SZR) | Stara Zagora, Bulgaria | |
| 3 | 80.62 miles (129.75 km) ENE | Bezmer Air Base (JAM) | Yambol (Jambol), Bulgaria | |
| 4 | 80.77 miles (129.99 km) S | Kavala International Airport "Alexander The Great" (KVA) | Kavala, Greece | |
| 5 | 86.04 miles (138.47 km) WNW | Sofia Airport Vrazhdebna (SOF) | Sofia, Bulgaria | |
| 6 | 86.41 miles (139.06 km) NNE | Gorna Oryahovitsa Airport (GOZ) | Gorna Oryahovitsa, Bulgaria | |
| 7 | 101.02 miles (162.58 km) SE | Alexandroupolis International Airport (AXD) | Alexandroupolis, Greece | |
| 8 | 127.60 miles (205.36 km) NNE | Ruse Airport (ROU) | Rousse, Bulgaria | |
| 9 | 139.42 miles (224.37 km) SSE | Gökçeada Airport (GKD) | Gökçeada, Turkey | |
| 10 | 139.79 miles (224.96 km) ENE | Burgas Airport (BOJ) | Burgas, Bulgaria | |
| 11 | 145.27 miles (233.79 km) SW | Thessaloniki International Airport "Makedonia" (SKG) | Thessaloniki, Greece | |
| 12 | 149.86 miles (241.17 km) S | Lemnos International Airport (LXS) | Lemnos, Greece | |
| 13 | 156.19 miles (251.36 km) SSE | Çanakkale Airport (CKZ) | Çanakkale, Turkey | |
| 14 | 163.07 miles (262.43 km) NNW | Craiova International Airport (CRA) | Craiova, Romania | |
| 15 | 166.36 miles (267.74 km) W | Skopje Airport (SKP) | Skopje, Macedonia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,354.64 miles (18,273.47 km) ESE | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,062.71 miles (17,803.67 km) S | Rurutu Airport (RUR) | Rurutu, French Polynesia | |
| 3 | 11,033.83 miles (17,757.19 km) S | Mangaia Island Airport (MGS) | Mangaia Island, Cook Islands | |
| 4 | 11,008.07 miles (17,715.72 km) E | Gisborne Airport (GIS) | Gisborne, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 10,969.84 miles (17,654.20 km) SSE | Rarotonga International Airport (RAR) | Avarua, Cook Islands | |
| 6 | 10,967.64 miles (17,650.67 km) E | Hawke's Bay Airport (NPE) | Napier, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 10,936.81 miles (17,601.05 km) E | Whakatane Airport (WHK) | Whakatane, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 10,930.12 miles (17,590.28 km) E | Hood Aerodrome (MRO) | Masterton, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 10,918.81 miles (17,572.08 km) E | Palmerston North Airport (PMR) | Palmerston North, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 10,916.02 miles (17,567.59 km) S | Akatoka Manava Airport (Mauke Airport) (MUK) | Mauke Island, Cook Islands | |
| 11 | 10,912.56 miles (17,562.01 km) E | Taupo AirportTe Papa Waka Rererangi o Taupō (TUO) | Taupo, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 10,910.57 miles (17,558.82 km) E | Rotorua International Airport (ROT) | Rotorua, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 10,896.26 miles (17,535.79 km) E | Kapiti Coast Airport (PPQ) | Paraparaumu Beach, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 10,894.18 miles (17,532.45 km) E | Tauranga Airport (TRG) | Tauranga, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 10,893.87 miles (17,531.94 km) S | Mitiaro Island Airport (MOI) | Mitiaro Island, Cook Islands | |