Nonstop flight route between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States and Christmas Island, Australia:
Departure Airport:
Arrival Airport:
Distance from PHL to XCH:
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- About this route
- PHL Airport Information
- XCH Airport Information
- Facts about PHL
- Facts about XCH
- Map of Nearest Airports to PHL
- List of Nearest Airports to PHL
- Map of Furthest Airports from PHL
- List of Furthest Airports from PHL
- Map of Nearest Airports to XCH
- List of Nearest Airports to XCH
- Map of Furthest Airports from XCH
- List of Furthest Airports from XCH
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States and Christmas Island Airport (XCH), Christmas Island, Australia would travel a Great Circle distance of 10,403 miles (or 16,742 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 Philadelphia International Airport and Christmas Island 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 Philadelphia International Airport and Christmas Island Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | PHL / KPHL |
| Airport Name: | Philadelphia International Airport |
| Location: | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 39°52'18"N by 75°14'27"W |
| Area Served: | Delaware Valley |
| Operator/Owner: | City of Philadelphia |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 36 feet (11 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 4 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PHL |
| More Information: | PHL Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | XCH / YPXM |
| Airport Name: | Christmas Island Airport |
| Location: | Christmas Island, Australia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 10°27'2"S by 105°41'25"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Toll Remote Logistics |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 916 feet (279 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from XCH |
| More Information: | XCH Maps & Info |
Facts about Philadelphia International Airport (PHL):
- On June 20, 1940, the airport's weather station became as the official point for Philadelphia weather observations and records by the National Weather Service.
- Philadelphia Municipal became Philadelphia International in 1945, when American Overseas Airlines began direct flights to Europe.
- Because of Philadelphia International Airport's relatively low elevation of 36 feet, planes can take off or land at Philadelphia 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 part of Philadelphia International Airport's 6.4 billion dollar expansion plans, an automated people mover is expected between 2015 and 2019.
- The furthest airport from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,734 miles (18,884 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- Starting in 1925 the Pennsylvania National Guard used the PHL site as a training airfield.
- Beginning in 1940 the Coatesville-based Rising Sun School of Aeronautics performed primary flight training at the airport under contract to the Air Corps.
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) has 4 runways.
- Such growth has not come without difficulties.
- The closest airport to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is Philadelphia Seaplane BaseChandler Field (PSQ), which is located only 3 miles (5 kilometers) WSW of PHL.
- SEPTA operates regional rail service between the airport and Center City Philadelphia via the Airport Line with stops at University City, Amtrak's 30th Street, Suburban, and Market East Stations.
Facts about Christmas Island Airport (XCH):
- Christmas Island Airport is a quiet airport and served 27,286 revenue passengers during financial year 2010-2011.
- Christmas Island Airport (XCH) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Christmas Island Airport (XCH) is Cibeureum Airfield (TSY), which is located 276 miles (445 kilometers) NE of XCH.
- From the late 1940s, when the island was still a British colony administered by Singapore and the Straits Settlements Administration, it was serviced occasionally by Royal Air Force Short Sunderland flying boats before the construction of the airport.
- Because of Christmas Island Airport's relatively low elevation of 916 feet, planes can take off or land at Christmas Island 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 Christmas Island Airport (XCH) is Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport (BAQ), which is nearly antipodal to Christmas Island Airport (meaning Christmas Island Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport), and is located 12,393 miles (19,944 kilometers) away in Barranquilla, Colombia.
- Christmas Island Airport handled 27,286 passengers last year.
