Nonstop flight route between Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Luganville, Vanuatu:
Departure Airport:
(34°44'43"N by 87°36'37"W)
Arrival Airport:
(15°30'20"S by 167°13'17"E)
Distance from MSL to SON:
7,674.32 miles (12,350.60 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MSL Airport Information
- SON Airport Information
- Facts about MSL
- Facts about SON
- 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 SON
- List of Nearest Airports to SON
- Map of Furthest Airports from SON
- List of Furthest Airports from SON
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL), Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Santo-Pekoa International Airport (SON), Luganville, Vanuatu would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,674 miles (or 12,351 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 Santo-Pekoa 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 Santo-Pekoa 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: | SON / NVSS |
| Airport Name: | Santo-Pekoa International Airport |
| Location: | Luganville, Vanuatu |
| GPS Coordinates: | 15°30'20"S by 167°13'17"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Airports Vanuatu Limited |
| Elevation: | 184 feet (56 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SON |
| More Information: | SON Maps & Info |
Facts about Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL):
- Prior to summer 2009, Muscle Shoals was served from Northwest Airlines' hub in Memphis via Northwest Airlink turboprop service operated by Mesaba Airlines.
- Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL) has 2 runways.
- 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 is a public-use airport in Colbert County, Alabama, United States.
- 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.
Facts about Santo-Pekoa International Airport (SON):
- The closest airport to Santo-Pekoa International Airport (SON) is Norsup Airport (NUS), which is located 41 miles (67 kilometers) SSE of SON.
- The 7th Naval Construction Battalion arrived on Santo on 11 August 1942 and began construction of more extensive air facilities to support the Guadalcanal Campaign.
- The furthest airport from Santo-Pekoa International Airport (SON) is Ouro Sogui Airport (MAX), which is nearly antipodal to Santo-Pekoa International Airport (meaning Santo-Pekoa International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Ouro Sogui Airport), and is located 12,400 miles (19,956 kilometers) away in Matam, Senegal.
- Luganville Airfield was used as a civilian airstrip until the early 1970s, however as it was on higher ground it was often clouded in and so it was decided to move all operations to the former Pekoa Airfield/Bomber Field No.2 which became Santo-Pekoa International Airport.
- Because of Santo-Pekoa International Airport's relatively low elevation of 184 feet, planes can take off or land at Santo-Pekoa 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.
- As the war moved further north, Pekoa Airfield was closed on 8 February 1945 and all traffic routed to Palikulo Bay Airfield.
- Santo-Pekoa International Airport (SON) 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 | 41.40 miles (66.63 km) SSE | Norsup Airport (NUS) | Norsup, Malakula island, Vanuatu | |
| 2 | 51.55 miles (82.96 km) ENE | Longana Airport (LOD) | Longana, Ambae Island, Pénama Province, Vanuatu | |
| 3 | 62.03 miles (99.82 km) E | Sara Airport (SSR) | Sara, Vanuatu | |
| 4 | 67.22 miles (108.19 km) ENE | Maewo-Naone Airport (MWF) | Maewo, Vanuatu | |
| 5 | 67.94 miles (109.34 km) ESE | Lonorore Airport (LNE) | Lonorore, Pentecost Island, Pénama Province, Vanuatu | |
| 6 | 70.24 miles (113.05 km) SE | Craig Cove Airport (CCV) | Craig Cove, Ambrym Island, Malampa, Vanuatu | |
| 7 | 76.29 miles (122.78 km) SSE | Malekoula Airport (LPM) | Lamap, Malampa, Vanuatu | |
| 8 | 92.27 miles (148.49 km) NNE | Gaua Airport (ZGU) | Gaua, Torba, Vanuatu | |
| 9 | 97.10 miles (156.27 km) SE | Lamen Bay Airport (LNB) | Lamen Bay, Epi Island, Shéfa Province, Vanuatu | |
| 10 | 116.22 miles (187.04 km) N | Vanua Lava Airport (SLH) | Sola, Vanua Lava, Torba Province, Vanuatu | |
| 11 | 130.17 miles (209.49 km) SE | Tongoa Airport (TGH) | Tongoa, Shefa Province, Vanuatu | |
| 12 | 131.28 miles (211.28 km) NNE | Mota Lava Airport (MTV) | Mota Lava, Vanuatu | |
| 13 | 132.34 miles (212.99 km) SE | Siwo Airport (EAE) | Sangafa, Emae, Shéfa, Vanuatu | |
| 14 | 168.09 miles (270.51 km) SSE | Bauerfield International Airport (VLI) | Port Vila, Vanuatu | |
| 15 | 254.27 miles (409.21 km) SSE | Dillon's Bay Airport (DLY) | Dillon's Bay, Erromango, Taféa, Vanuatu | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,400.07 miles (19,955.93 km) E | Ouro Sogui Airport (MAX) | Matam, Senegal | |
| 2 | 12,392.55 miles (19,943.82 km) WNW | Sélibaby Airport (SEY) | Sélibaby, Mauritania | |
| 3 | 12,386.81 miles (19,934.59 km) NNW | Bakel Airport (BXE) | Bakel, Senegal | |
| 4 | 12,370.56 miles (19,908.44 km) NE | Kaédi Airport (KED) | Kaédi, Mauritania | |
| 5 | 12,320.94 miles (19,828.58 km) NW | Kayes Airport (KYS) | Kayes, Mali | |
| 6 | 12,318.84 miles (19,825.20 km) NW | Kiffa Airport (KFA) | Kiffa, Mauritania | |
| 7 | 12,314.43 miles (19,818.10 km) NE | Abbaye Airport (BGH) | Boghe (Bogué), Mauritania | |
| 8 | 12,301.30 miles (19,796.98 km) NNE | Tambacounda Airport (TUD) | Tambacounda, Senegal | |
| 9 | 12,287.19 miles (19,774.26 km) W | Yélimané Airport (EYL) | Yélimané, Mali | |
| 10 | 12,280.65 miles (19,763.74 km) N | Letfotar Airport (MOM) | Moudjeria, Mauritania | |
| 11 | 12,270.59 miles (19,747.55 km) ENE | Podor Airport (POD) | Podor, Senegal | |
| 12 | 12,263.41 miles (19,735.99 km) NNE | Simenti Airport (SMY) | Simenti, Senegal | |
| 13 | 12,260.31 miles (19,731.00 km) NW | Tamchakett Airport (THT) | Tamchakett, Mauritania | |
| 14 | 12,248.31 miles (19,711.69 km) NE | Boutilimit Airport (OTL) | Boutilimit, Mauritania | |
| 15 | 12,235.04 miles (19,690.34 km) ENE | Richard Toll Airport (RDT) | Richard Toll, Senegal | |