Nonstop flight route between Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Avarua, Cook Islands:
Departure Airport:
(34°44'43"N by 87°36'37"W)
Arrival Airport:
(21°12'10"S by 159°48'20"W)
Distance from MSL to RAR:
6,107.07 miles (9,828.36 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MSL Airport Information
- RAR Airport Information
- Facts about MSL
- Facts about RAR
- 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 RAR
- List of Nearest Airports to RAR
- Map of Furthest Airports from RAR
- List of Furthest Airports from RAR
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL), Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Rarotonga International Airport (RAR), Avarua, Cook Islands would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,107 miles (or 9,828 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 Rarotonga 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 Rarotonga 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: | RAR / NCRG |
| Airport Name: | Rarotonga International Airport |
| Location: | Avarua, Cook Islands |
| GPS Coordinates: | 21°12'10"S by 159°48'20"W |
| Area Served: | Avarua |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 19 feet (6 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from RAR |
| More Information: | RAR 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Facts about Rarotonga International Airport (RAR):
- The closest airport to Rarotonga International Airport (RAR) is Mangaia Island Airport (MGS), which is located 131 miles (211 kilometers) ESE of RAR.
- Another outbound view of Rarotonga Airport and the island's mountainous interior
- Air New Zealand Airbus A320 awaiting passengers at Rarotonga International
- Because of Rarotonga International Airport's relatively low elevation of 19 feet, planes can take off or land at Rarotonga 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.
- Rarotonga International Airport (RAR) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Rarotonga International Airport (RAR) is Faya-Largeau Airport (FYT), which is nearly antipodal to Rarotonga International Airport (meaning Rarotonga International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Faya-Largeau Airport), and is located 12,199 miles (19,632 kilometers) away in Faya-Largeau, Chad.
- An $8.5m reconstruction project commenced in 2009 to revamp and expand the existing terminal facilities.
| 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 | 131.09 miles (210.96 km) ESE | Mangaia Island Airport (MGS) | Mangaia Island, Cook Islands | |
| 2 | 165.33 miles (266.08 km) NE | Mitiaro Island Airport (MOI) | Mitiaro Island, Cook Islands | |
| 3 | 175.31 miles (282.13 km) ENE | Akatoka Manava Airport (Mauke Airport) (MUK) | Mauke Island, Cook Islands | |
| 4 | 547.88 miles (881.73 km) E | Rurutu Airport (RUR) | Rurutu, French Polynesia | |
| 5 | 594.38 miles (956.57 km) ENE | Maupiti Airport (MAU) | Maupiti, Leeward Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 6 | 620.67 miles (998.87 km) ENE | Bora Bora Airport (BOB) | Bora Bora, French Polynesia | |
| 7 | 653.11 miles (1,051.08 km) ENE | Huahine – Fare Airport (HUH) | Huahine, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 8 | 672.50 miles (1,082.28 km) W | Niue International Airport (IUE) | Alofi, Niue | |
| 9 | 702.99 miles (1,131.35 km) ENE | Moorea Airport (MOZ) | Moorea, Windward Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 10 | 710.36 miles (1,143.21 km) ENE | Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT) | Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia | |
| 11 | 751.93 miles (1,210.11 km) N | Manihiki Island Airport (MHX) | Manihiki Island, Cook Islands | |
| 12 | 795.64 miles (1,280.46 km) NW | Fitiuta Airport (FTI) | Fiti‘uta, American Samoa, United States | |
| 13 | 799.66 miles (1,286.93 km) NW | Tau Airport (TAV) | Tau, American Samoa | |
| 14 | 809.93 miles (1,303.45 km) NW | Ofu Airport (OFU) | Ofu, American Samoa | |
| 15 | 849.61 miles (1,367.32 km) ENE | Mataiva Airport (MVT) | Mataiva, French Polynesia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,199.06 miles (19,632.44 km) NNE | Faya-Largeau Airport (FYT) | Faya-Largeau, Chad | |
| 2 | 12,150.79 miles (19,554.75 km) NW | Kufra Airport (AKF) | Kufra, Libya | |
| 3 | 11,926.76 miles (19,194.22 km) N | Abéché Airport (AEH) | Abéché, Chad | |
| 4 | 11,888.24 miles (19,132.23 km) N | Oum-Hadjer Airport (OUM) | Oum Hadjer, Chad | |
| 5 | 11,882.82 miles (19,123.50 km) NNW | Geneina Airport (EGN) | Geneina, Sudan | |
| 6 | 11,882.03 miles (19,122.23 km) WNW | Sharq Al-Owainat Airport (GSQ) | Sharq Al-Owainat, Egypt | |
| 7 | 11,872.80 miles (19,107.38 km) NNE | Ati Airport (ATV) | Ati, Chad | |
| 8 | 11,853.10 miles (19,075.67 km) NE | Mao Airport (AMO) | Mao, Chad | |
| 9 | 11,813.07 miles (19,011.24 km) NNW | El Fashir Airport (ELF) | El Fasher, Sudan | |
| 10 | 11,804.69 miles (18,997.75 km) N | Mongo Airport (MVO) | Mongo, Chad | |
| 11 | 11,801.69 miles (18,992.93 km) N | Marsa Brega Airport (LMQ) | Brega, Libya | |
| 12 | 11,793.59 miles (18,979.89 km) NNE | Bokoro Airport (BKR) | Bokoro, Chad | |
| 13 | 11,791.34 miles (18,976.27 km) NE | Bol-Berim Airport (OTC) | Bol, Chad | |
| 14 | 11,761.42 miles (18,928.12 km) N | Abou-Deïa Airport (AOD) | Abou-Deia, Chad | |
| 15 | 11,758.22 miles (18,922.97 km) W | Dongola Airport (DOG) | Dongola, Sudan | |