Nonstop flight route between Chicago, Illinois, United States and Pietermaritzburg, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(41°58'42"N by 87°54'16"W)
Arrival Airport:
(29°38'48"S by 30°23'53"E)
Distance from ORD to PZB:
8,953.22 miles (14,408.78 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- ORD Airport Information
- PZB Airport Information
- Facts about ORD
- Facts about PZB
- Map of Nearest Airports to ORD
- List of Nearest Airports to ORD
- Map of Furthest Airports from ORD
- List of Furthest Airports from ORD
- Map of Nearest Airports to PZB
- List of Nearest Airports to PZB
- Map of Furthest Airports from PZB
- List of Furthest Airports from PZB
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois, United States and Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB), Pietermaritzburg, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,953 miles (or 14,409 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 Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Pietermaritzburg 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 Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Pietermaritzburg Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | ORD / KORD |
| Airport Name: | Chicago O'Hare International Airport |
| Location: | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 41°58'42"N by 87°54'16"W |
| Area Served: | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Operator/Owner: | City of Chicago |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 668 feet (204 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 8 |
| View all routes: | Routes from ORD |
| More Information: | ORD Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | PZB / FAPM |
| Airport Name: | Pietermaritzburg Airport |
| Location: | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 29°38'48"S by 30°23'53"E |
| Area Served: | Pietermaritzburg |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 2423 feet (739 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PZB |
| More Information: | PZB Maps & Info |
Facts about Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD):
- The closest airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is Chicago Executive Airport (PWK), which is located only 9 miles (15 kilometers) N of ORD.
- All international arrivals at O'Hare arrive at Terminal 5, as the other terminals do not have Customs facilities.
- Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) has 8 runways.
- By the early 1950s, Chicago Midway International Airport, Chicago's primary airport since 1931, had become too crowded despite multiple expansions and could not handle the planned first generation of jets.
- It is operated by the City of Chicago Department of Aviation.
- Because of Chicago O'Hare International Airport's relatively low elevation of 668 feet, planes can take off or land at Chicago O'Hare 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.
- The furthest airport from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,071 miles (17,817 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- In the 1980s, after deregulation, TWA replaced Chicago with St.
- Delta moved from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2 in 2009 in order to align its operations with merger partner Northwest Airlines.
Facts about Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB):
- Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) is Hana Airport (HNM), which is located 11,706 miles (18,839 kilometers) away in Hana, Hawaii, United States.
- The closest airport to Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) is King Shaka International (DUR), which is located 43 miles (69 kilometers) E of PZB.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 9.37 miles (15.08 km) N | Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) | Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, Illinois, United States |     |
| 2 | 15.43 miles (24.84 km) SSE | Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| 3 | 18.34 miles (29.52 km) WSW | DuPage Airport (DPA) | West Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| 4 | 27.49 miles (44.24 km) SSW | Lewis University Airport (LOT) | Chicago / Romeoville, Illinois, United States | |
| 5 | 30.71 miles (49.42 km) N | Waukegan National Airport (UGN) | Chicago / Waukegan, Illinois, United States | |
| 6 | 32.66 miles (52.55 km) WSW | Chicago/Aurora Municipal Airport (AUZ) | Aurora, Illinois, United States | |
| 7 | 34.77 miles (55.95 km) SSW | Joliet Regional Airport (JOT) | Joliet, Illinois, United States | |
| 8 | 35.62 miles (57.32 km) SE | Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY) | Gary, Indiana (near Chicago), United States | |
| 9 | 42.64 miles (68.63 km) N | Kenosha Regional Airport (ENW) | Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States | |
| 10 | 54.22 miles (87.26 km) N | John H. Batten Airport (RAC) | Racine, Wisconsin, United States | |
| 11 | 58.80 miles (94.62 km) SE | Porter County Regional Airport (VPZ) | Valparaiso, Indiana, United States | |
| 12 | 58.93 miles (94.84 km) ESE | Michigan City Municipal Airport (MGC) | Michigan City, Indiana, United States | |
| 13 | 62.76 miles (100.99 km) S | Greater Kankakee Airport (IKK) | Kankakee, Illinois, United States | |
| 14 | 62.95 miles (101.31 km) WNW | Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) | Rockford, Illinois, United States | |
| 15 | 66.51 miles (107.04 km) ESE | La Porte Municipal Airport (LPO) | La Porte, Indiana, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,071.27 miles (17,817.44 km) WSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,047.86 miles (17,779.76 km) WSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,031.37 miles (17,753.23 km) WSW | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,023.12 miles (17,739.96 km) WSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,977.81 miles (17,667.03 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,969.87 miles (17,654.25 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,964.92 miles (17,646.28 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,954.62 miles (17,629.71 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,936.61 miles (17,600.72 km) WSW | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,930.34 miles (17,590.63 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,878.99 miles (17,508.00 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,846.89 miles (17,456.33 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,837.23 miles (17,440.79 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,827.50 miles (17,425.13 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,786.85 miles (17,359.71 km) SW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 42.69 miles (68.70 km) E | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 2 | 83.35 miles (134.14 km) NNW | Ladysmith Airport (LAY) | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 3 | 83.63 miles (134.59 km) WNW | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 4 | 83.86 miles (134.96 km) S | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 5 | 105.88 miles (170.39 km) W | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 6 | 119.80 miles (192.80 km) ENE | Richards Bay Airport (RCB) | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 7 | 122.75 miles (197.54 km) W | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 8 | 140.90 miles (226.76 km) W | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 9 | 151.59 miles (243.96 km) WNW | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 160.36 miles (258.08 km) NE | Hluhluwe Airport (HLW) | Hluhluwe, South Africa | |
| 11 | 166.52 miles (267.98 km) SW | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 12 | 171.51 miles (276.02 km) W | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 13 | 189.60 miles (305.13 km) W | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 14 | 222.43 miles (357.96 km) NNE | Matsapha Airport (MTS) | Manzini, Swaziland | |
| 15 | 248.95 miles (400.65 km) NNW | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,705.97 miles (18,838.89 km) NE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,697.37 miles (18,825.04 km) NE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,694.77 miles (18,820.85 km) NE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,692.21 miles (18,816.75 km) NE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,686.79 miles (18,808.03 km) NE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,679.67 miles (18,796.55 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,671.84 miles (18,783.96 km) NE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,670.76 miles (18,782.22 km) NNE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,669.82 miles (18,780.71 km) NNE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,666.25 miles (18,774.96 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,664.41 miles (18,772.00 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,662.49 miles (18,768.91 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,662.49 miles (18,768.91 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,658.50 miles (18,762.49 km) NNE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,655.71 miles (18,757.99 km) NE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |