Nonstop flight route between Port Elizabeth, South Africa and Bluefield, West Virginia, United States:
Departure Airport:
(33°59'4"S by 25°36'37"E)
Arrival Airport:
(37°17'44"N by 81°12'28"W)
Distance from PLZ to BLF:
8,427.67 miles (13,562.99 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- PLZ Airport Information
- BLF Airport Information
- Facts about PLZ
- Facts about BLF
- Map of Nearest Airports to PLZ
- List of Nearest Airports to PLZ
- Map of Furthest Airports from PLZ
- List of Furthest Airports from PLZ
- Map of Nearest Airports to BLF
- List of Nearest Airports to BLF
- Map of Furthest Airports from BLF
- List of Furthest Airports from BLF
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), Port Elizabeth, South Africa and Mercer County Airport (BLF), Bluefield, West Virginia, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,428 miles (or 13,563 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 Port Elizabeth International Airport and Mercer County 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 Port Elizabeth International Airport and Mercer County Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | PLZ / FAPE |
| Airport Name: | Port Elizabeth International Airport |
| Location: | Port Elizabeth, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 33°59'4"S by 25°36'37"E |
| Area Served: | Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 226 feet (69 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PLZ |
| More Information: | PLZ Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | BLF / KBLF |
| Airport Name: | Mercer County Airport |
| Location: | Bluefield, West Virginia, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 37°17'44"N by 81°12'28"W |
| Area Served: | Bluefield / Princeton, West Virginia |
| Operator/Owner: | Mercer County Airport Authority |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 2857 feet (871 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from BLF |
| More Information: | BLF Maps & Info |
Facts about Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ):
- Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) has 2 runways.
- Construction of the permanent terminal buildings, runways and an air traffic control building began in 1950.
- August 1998 - A South African Airways Boeing 747-400 landed at Port Elizabeth Airport to be officially named 'Ibayhi' the Xhosa word for Port Elizabeth.
- Because of Port Elizabeth International Airport's relatively low elevation of 226 feet, planes can take off or land at Port Elizabeth 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.
- A number of hotels are present on or near the airport.
- 17 May 2004 - John Travolta landed his personal Qantas Boeing 707 at the airport directly from Mauritius as he was visiting a nearby private game reserve.
- The furthest airport from Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) is Princeville Airport (HPV), which is located 11,567 miles (18,615 kilometers) away in Hanalei, Hawaii, United States.
- The closest airport to Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) is Port Alfred Airport (AFD), which is located 79 miles (127 kilometers) ENE of PLZ.
Facts about Mercer County Airport (BLF):
- Mercer County Airport (BLF) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Mercer County Airport (BLF) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,493 miles (18,496 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- The closest airport to Mercer County Airport (BLF) is New River Valley Airport (PSK), which is located 31 miles (50 kilometers) ESE of BLF.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 78.75 miles (126.73 km) ENE | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa |     |
| 2 | 143.28 miles (230.59 km) ENE | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 3 | 184.99 miles (297.72 km) W | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 4 | 245.11 miles (394.47 km) NE | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 5 | 304.52 miles (490.08 km) NNE | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 6 | 320.47 miles (515.74 km) NNE | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 7 | 332.65 miles (535.34 km) NNE | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 8 | 333.67 miles (536.98 km) NNE | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 9 | 334.46 miles (538.25 km) NNE | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 340.38 miles (547.79 km) N | Bloemfontein International Airport (BFN) | Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa | |
| 11 | 350.38 miles (563.88 km) NE | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 12 | 361.57 miles (581.90 km) N | Kimberley Airport (KIM) | Kimberley, South Africa | |
| 13 | 382.50 miles (615.57 km) NNE | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 14 | 383.44 miles (617.09 km) NNE | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 401.75 miles (646.55 km) W | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Cape Town, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,567.15 miles (18,615.48 km) NNE | Princeville Airport (HPV) | Hanalei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,554.19 miles (18,594.63 km) NNE | Lihue Airport (LIH) | Lihue, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,548.86 miles (18,586.04 km) NNE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,547.60 miles (18,584.02 km) NNE | PMRF Barking Sands (BKH) | Kekaha, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,544.96 miles (18,579.76 km) NNE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,543.44 miles (18,577.32 km) NNE | Port Allen Airport (PAK) | Hanapepe, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,540.26 miles (18,572.21 km) N | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,535.54 miles (18,564.60 km) NNE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,535.54 miles (18,564.60 km) NNE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,534.95 miles (18,563.65 km) N | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,532.58 miles (18,559.84 km) NNE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,526.35 miles (18,549.82 km) N | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,524.08 miles (18,546.17 km) N | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,520.12 miles (18,539.80 km) N | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,511.49 miles (18,525.90 km) N | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 31.11 miles (50.07 km) ESE | New River Valley Airport (PSK) | Dublin, Virginia, United States | |
| 2 | 34.26 miles (55.13 km) N | Raleigh County Memorial Airport (BKW) | Beckley, West Virginia, United States | |
| 3 | 44.42 miles (71.48 km) E | Virginia Tech Montgomery Executive Airport (BCB) | Blacksburg, Virginia, United States | |
| 4 | 58.90 miles (94.80 km) NE | Greenbrier Valley Airport (LWB) | Lewisburg, West Virginia, United States | |
| 5 | 61.99 miles (99.76 km) SW | Virginia Highlands Airport (VJI) | Abingdon, Virginia, United States | |
| 6 | 67.75 miles (109.03 km) E | Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) | Roanoke, Virginia, United States | |
| 7 | 74.39 miles (119.72 km) S | Wilkes County Airport (IKB) | North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, United States | |
| 8 | 75.88 miles (122.11 km) WSW | Lonesome Pine Airport (LNP) | Wise, Virginia, United States | |
| 9 | 77.53 miles (124.77 km) NNW | Yeager Airport (CRW) | Charleston, West Virginia, United States | |
| 10 | 87.23 miles (140.39 km) SW | Tri-Cities Regional Airport (TRI) | Blountville, Tennessee (Tri-Cities area), United States | |
| 11 | 97.11 miles (156.28 km) SE | Smith Reynolds Airport (INT) | Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States | |
| 12 | 104.38 miles (167.99 km) SSW | Foothills Regional Airport (MRN) | Morganton, North Carolina, United States | |
| 13 | 104.45 miles (168.10 km) NW | Tri-State Airport (HTS) | Huntington, West Virginia, United States | |
| 14 | 104.64 miles (168.41 km) NW | Lawrence County Airpark (HTW) | Chesapeake, Ohio / Huntington, West Virginia, United States | |
| 15 | 107.89 miles (173.64 km) S | Hickory Regional Airport (HKY) | Hickory, North Carolina, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,493.06 miles (18,496.25 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,471.25 miles (18,461.14 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,448.92 miles (18,425.21 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,443.63 miles (18,416.70 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,418.96 miles (18,376.99 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,403.58 miles (18,352.24 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,394.39 miles (18,337.45 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,387.55 miles (18,326.44 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,364.93 miles (18,290.03 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,349.04 miles (18,264.47 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,346.23 miles (18,259.94 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,320.00 miles (18,217.74 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,297.53 miles (18,181.57 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,293.50 miles (18,175.09 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,265.80 miles (18,130.50 km) SW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |