Nonstop flight route between Pellston, Michigan, United States and Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County (PLN), Pellston, Michigan, United States and King Shaka International (DUR), Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,860 miles (or 14,258 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 Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County and King Shaka International, 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 Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County and King Shaka International. 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 Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County (PLN):

• Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County (PLN) has 2 runways.
• The furthest airport from Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County (PLN) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,115 miles (17,888 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
• The closest airport to Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County (PLN) is Mackinac Island Airport (MCD), which is located 22 miles (35 kilometers) NNE of PLN.
• In May 2013 Lakeshore Express Aviation announced regular flights from Pellston to Oakland County International Airport on 30-seat Saab 340B aircraft beginning in June.
• Because of Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County's relatively low elevation of 720 feet, planes can take off or land at Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet 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 King Shaka International (DUR):

• The closest airport to King Shaka International (DUR) is Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB), which is located 43 miles (69 kilometers) W of DUR.
• On 27 January 2014 the worlds largest passenger aircraft, an Airbus A380-800 of British Airways landed at KSIA becoming the first A380 to do so.
• King Shaka International (DUR) currently has only 1 runway.
• Because of King Shaka International's relatively low elevation of 295 feet, planes can take off or land at King Shaka International 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 airport forms part of the Dube Tradeport, which will additionally consist of a trade zone linked to the airport's cargo terminal, facilities to support the airport such as nearby offices and transit accommodation for tourists, an integrated agricultural export zone, and an IT platform.
• The furthest airport from King Shaka International (DUR) is Hana Airport (HNM), which is located 11,682 miles (18,801 kilometers) away in Hana, Hawaii, United States.
• As a result, a study into the risks of bird strikes at KSIA was commissioned, with special attention being paid to the Barn Swallows at Mount Moreland.
• It is unclear what the fate of the existing Durban International Airport will be now that KSIA is complete.
• The arrivals area is located on the lower floor, with a baggage reclaim hall containing 5 conveyors that can be allocated between domestic and international use.