Nonstop flight route between Palo Alto, California, United States and Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar:
Departure Airport:
(37°27'39"N by 122°6'53"W)
Arrival Airport:
(17°5'38"S by 49°48'56"E)
Distance from PAO to SMS:
10,946.46 miles (17,616.58 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- PAO Airport Information
- SMS Airport Information
- Facts about PAO
- Facts about SMS
- Map of Nearest Airports to PAO
- List of Nearest Airports to PAO
- Map of Furthest Airports from PAO
- List of Furthest Airports from PAO
- Map of Nearest Airports to SMS
- List of Nearest Airports to SMS
- Map of Furthest Airports from SMS
- List of Furthest Airports from SMS
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County (PAO), Palo Alto, California, United States and Sainte Marie Airport (SMS), Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar would travel a Great Circle distance of 10,946 miles (or 17,617 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 Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County and Sainte Marie 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 Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County and Sainte Marie Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | PAO / KPAO |
| Airport Name: | Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County |
| Location: | Palo Alto, California, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 37°27'39"N by 122°6'53"W |
| Operator/Owner: | County of Santa Clara |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 4 feet (1 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PAO |
| More Information: | PAO Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SMS / FMMS |
| Airport Name: | Sainte Marie Airport |
| Location: | Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar |
| GPS Coordinates: | 17°5'38"S by 49°48'56"E |
| Area Served: | Sainte Marie, Analanjirofo, Madagascar |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 7 feet (2 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SMS |
| More Information: | SMS Maps & Info |
Facts about Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County (PAO):
- The closest airport to Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County (PAO) is Moffett Federal Airfield (NUQ), which is located only 5 miles (8 kilometers) SE of PAO.
- The furthest airport from Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County (PAO) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,365 miles (18,289 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- The airport was transferred to the United States Navy as King City NAAS in April 1945, and returned to civil control in December 1945.
- Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County (PAO) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County's relatively low elevation of 4 feet, planes can take off or land at Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County 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 Sainte Marie Airport (SMS):
- Because of Sainte Marie Airport's relatively low elevation of 7 feet, planes can take off or land at Sainte Marie 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 Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) is Guerrero Negro Airport (GUB), which is located 11,161 miles (17,962 kilometers) away in Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
- Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) is Toamasino Airport (TMM), which is located 76 miles (122 kilometers) SSW of SMS.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 4.85 miles (7.81 km) SE | Moffett Federal Airfield (NUQ) | Mountain View, California, United States |     |
| 2 | 12.25 miles (19.72 km) ESE | Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) | San Jose, California, United States | |
| 3 | 13.67 miles (22.00 km) N | Hayward Executive Airport (HWD) | Hayward, California, United States | |
| 4 | 17.94 miles (28.87 km) NW | San Francisco International Airport (SFO) | San Francisco, California, United States | |
| 5 | 18.47 miles (29.73 km) ESE | Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (RHV) | San Jose, California, United States | |
| 6 | 18.89 miles (30.41 km) NNW | Oakland International Airport (OAK) | Oakland (near San Francisco), California, United States | |
| 7 | 21.47 miles (34.56 km) W | Half Moon Bay AirportHalf Moon Bay Flight Strip (HAF) | Half Moon Bay, California, United States | |
| 8 | 22.76 miles (36.62 km) NE | Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK) | Livermore, California, United States | |
| 9 | 36.66 miles (59.00 km) N | Buchanan FieldConcord Army Air Base (CCR) | Concord, California, United States | |
| 10 | 40.47 miles (65.13 km) SSE | Watsonville Municipal Airport (WVI) | Watsonville, California, United States | |
| 11 | 52.74 miles (84.88 km) N | Napa County Airport (APC) | Napa, California, United States | |
| 12 | 52.95 miles (85.21 km) NNW | Marin County Airport (NOT) | Novato, California, United States | |
| 13 | 55.17 miles (88.79 km) SE | Hollister Municipal Airport (HLI) | Hollister, California, United States | |
| 14 | 55.29 miles (88.98 km) E | NASA Crows Landing Airport (NRC) | Crows Landing, California, United States | |
| 15 | 56.33 miles (90.65 km) N | Travis Air Force Base Fairfield-Suisun Army Airfield (SUU) | Fairfield, California, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,364.54 miles (18,289.40 km) SE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 2 | 11,312.01 miles (18,204.87 km) S | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 3 | 11,283.08 miles (18,158.32 km) S | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 4 | 11,263.27 miles (18,126.43 km) SE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 5 | 11,260.00 miles (18,121.17 km) S | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 6 | 11,177.10 miles (17,987.75 km) SSE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 7 | 11,169.97 miles (17,976.28 km) SSW | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 8 | 11,156.35 miles (17,954.37 km) SSE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 11,064.70 miles (17,806.86 km) SE | Andavadoaka Airport (DVD) | Andavadoaka, Toliara province, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 11,063.42 miles (17,804.81 km) SE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 11,048.60 miles (17,780.95 km) SE | Morombe Airport (MXM) | Morombe, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 11,004.18 miles (17,709.47 km) SSE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 11,002.17 miles (17,706.24 km) SSE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,991.14 miles (17,688.48 km) SE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 10,969.47 miles (17,653.61 km) SE | Belo sur Tsiribihina Airport (BMD) | Belo sur Tsiribihina, Madagascar | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 75.51 miles (121.52 km) SSW | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 2 | 109.66 miles (176.48 km) NW | Mandritsara Airport (WMA) | Mandritsara, Madagascar | |
| 3 | 147.27 miles (237.02 km) W | Tsaratanana Airport (TTS) | Tsaratanana, Madagascar. | |
| 4 | 148.54 miles (239.05 km) NNE | Antsirabato Airport (ANM) | Antalaha, Madagascar | |
| 5 | 179.31 miles (288.56 km) NW | Port Bergé Airport (WPB) | Port Bergé, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 193.49 miles (311.40 km) SW | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 7 | 218.14 miles (351.06 km) NW | Analalava Airport (HVA) | Analalava, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 249.90 miles (402.17 km) WNW | Amborovy Airport (MJN) | Mahajanga, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 255.83 miles (411.71 km) NNW | Ambanja Airport (IVA) | Ambanja, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 272.99 miles (439.33 km) WSW | Tsiroanomandidy Airport (WTS) | Tsiroanomandidy, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 275.44 miles (443.27 km) NNW | Ambilobe Airport (AMB) | Ambilobe, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 279.38 miles (449.62 km) W | Ambatomainty Airport (AMY) | Ambatomainty, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 299.34 miles (481.74 km) SSW | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 302.75 miles (487.22 km) WNW | Soalala Airport (DWB) | Soalala, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 320.40 miles (515.63 km) WSW | Ankavandra Airport (JVA) | Ankavandra, Madagascar | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,160.95 miles (17,961.77 km) NW | Guerrero Negro Airport (GUB) | Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Mexico | |
| 2 | 11,121.21 miles (17,897.80 km) WNW | Ciudad Constitución Airport (CUA) | Ciudad Constitución, Baja California Sur, Mexico | |
| 3 | 11,112.23 miles (17,883.35 km) NW | Ensenada Airport (ESE) | Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 4 | 11,103.17 miles (17,868.77 km) NNW | Santa Cruz Island Airport (SZN) | Santa Barbara, California, United States | |
| 5 | 11,101.15 miles (17,865.52 km) NW | Bahía de los Ángeles Airport (BHL) | Bahía de los Ángeles, Baja California, México | |
| 6 | 11,093.48 miles (17,853.19 km) NNW | Catalina AirportBuffalo Springs Airport (CIB) | Avalon, California, United States | |
| 7 | 11,092.50 miles (17,851.61 km) NW | Naval Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach (NRS) | Imperial Beach, California, United States | |
| 8 | 11,089.23 miles (17,846.34 km) NW | NAS North Island (NZY) | San Diego, California, United States | |
| 9 | 11,088.31 miles (17,844.86 km) NW | Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) | Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 10 | 11,087.06 miles (17,842.84 km) NW | Brown Field Municipal Airport (SDM) | San Diego, California, United States | |
| 11 | 11,086.45 miles (17,841.87 km) NW | San Diego International Airport (SAN) | San Diego, California, United States | |
| 12 | 11,082.62 miles (17,835.71 km) NNW | Lompoc Airport (LPC) | Lompoc, California, United States | |
| 13 | 11,081.44 miles (17,833.81 km) WNW | Loreto International Airport (LTO) | Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico | |
| 14 | 11,081.30 miles (17,833.57 km) NNW | Vandenberg Air Force Base (VBG) | Lompoc, California, United States | |
| 15 | 11,080.22 miles (17,831.85 km) NW | Montgomery Field (MYF) | San Diego, California, United States | |