Nonstop flight route between Hattiesburg/Laurel, Mississippi, United States and Hambantota, Sri Lanka:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Hattiesburg–Laurel Regional Airport (PIB), Hattiesburg/Laurel, Mississippi, United States and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI), Hambantota, Sri Lanka would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,753 miles (or 15,696 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 Hattiesburg–Laurel Regional Airport and Mattala Rajapaksa 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 Hattiesburg–Laurel Regional Airport and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Hattiesburg–Laurel Regional Airport (PIB):

• Hattiesburg–Laurel Regional Airport (PIB) currently has only 1 runway.
• Because of Hattiesburg–Laurel Regional Airport's relatively low elevation of 298 feet, planes can take off or land at Hattiesburg–Laurel 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.
• With its close proximity to the University of Southern Mississippi, the airport sees a great deal of larger charter airliners like the A320 and B737 transporting teams to and from athletic events.
• The closest airport to Hattiesburg–Laurel Regional Airport (PIB) is Hattiesburg Bobby L. Chain Municipal Airport (HBG), which is located only 15 miles (24 kilometers) SSE of PIB.
• The furthest airport from Hattiesburg–Laurel Regional Airport (PIB) is Cocos (Keeling) Island Airport (CCK), which is located 11,048 miles (17,780 kilometers) away in Cocos Islands, Australia.

Facts about Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI):

• Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) currently has only 1 runway.
• Hambantota International Airport will include domestic/regional and international passenger and cargo terminals, warehouses, as well as being compatible for seaplane/amphibious operations etc.
• The air traffic control tower of height 41m has been constructed at the highest elevation of the aerodrome.
• The closest airport to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) is Weerawila Airport (WRZ), which is located only 8 miles (13 kilometers) ESE of HRI.
• The furthest airport from Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) is Seymour Airport (GPS), which is located 11,719 miles (18,860 kilometers) away in Baltra Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.
• This project will have two phases, with the first phase expected to be completed by the end of October 2012.
• Domestic carriers Helitours and Cinnamon Air offer charter flights that connect the airport with Ratmalana Airport and Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo.
• In addition to being known as "Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport", another name for HRI is "මත්තල රාජපක්ෂ ජාත්‍යන්තර ගුවන්තොටුපළமத்தல ராஜபக்ஷ பன்னாட்டு விமான நிலையம்".
• Because of Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport's relatively low elevation of 157 feet, planes can take off or land at Mattala Rajapaksa 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.