Nonstop flight route between Port Elizabeth, South Africa and Bloomington, Illinois, United States:
Departure Airport:

Arrival Airport:

Distance from PLZ to BMI:
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- About this route
- PLZ Airport Information
- BMI Airport Information
- Facts about PLZ
- Facts about BMI
- 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 BMI
- List of Nearest Airports to BMI
- Map of Furthest Airports from BMI
- List of Furthest Airports from BMI
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), Port Elizabeth, South Africa and Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal (BMI), Bloomington, Illinois, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,889 miles (or 14,306 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 Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal, 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 Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal. 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: | BMI / KBMI |
Airport Name: | Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal |
Location: | Bloomington, Illinois, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 40°28'37"N by 88°54'56"W |
Area Served: | Bloomington / Normal, Illinois |
Operator/Owner: | Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 871 feet (265 meters) |
# of Runways: | 2 |
View all routes: | Routes from BMI |
More Information: | BMI Maps & Info |
Facts about Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ):
- These facilities served the community till 2000 when plans for a major terminal upgrade was drawn-up.
- The closest airport to Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) is Port Alfred Airport (AFD), which is located 79 miles (127 kilometers) ENE of PLZ.
- 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 highlight in Port Elizabeth's history was the first flight to Port Elizabeth from Cape Town in 1917, made by Major Allister Mackintosh Miller.
- 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.
- There is also a branch of the South African Air Force Museum at the airport.
- Port Elizabeth Airport was established in 1929 in close proximity to the city.
- Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) has 2 runways.
Facts about Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal (BMI):
- Dedication of the airport was on May 30, 1928, witnessed by some 10,000 area residents.
- The airport dates to the spring of 1927 when farmer Herman Will opened a 70-plus-acre tract in rural Normal Township.
- CIRA has a healthy general aviation presence.
- Nothing survives of the old airport, but a historic marker near the north end of Constitution Trail commemorates the site.
- Because of Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal's relatively low elevation of 871 feet, planes can take off or land at Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal 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 closest airport to Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal (BMI) is General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport (PIA), which is located 43 miles (69 kilometers) WNW of BMI.
- The following summer, on July 11, 1929, a larger crowd, estimated at 15,000, gathered at the airfield for the Central Illinois Air Derby.
- The Prairie Aviation Museum is on the west side of the airport.
- On November 5, 2001, the airport opened a new $14 million terminal building, three times larger than the previous terminal.
- The furthest airport from Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal (BMI) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,045 miles (17,775 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal (BMI) has 2 runways.