Nonstop flight route between Paraparaumu Beach, New Zealand and Castries, Saint Lucia:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Kapiti Coast Airport (PPQ), Paraparaumu Beach, New Zealand and George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU), Castries, Saint Lucia would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,614 miles (or 13,863 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 Kapiti Coast Airport and George F. L. Charles 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 Kapiti Coast Airport and George F. L. Charles 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 Kapiti Coast Airport (PPQ):

• Because of Kapiti Coast Airport's relatively low elevation of 22 feet, planes can take off or land at Kapiti Coast 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 Kapiti Coast Airport (PPQ) is Salamanca-Matacán Airport (SLM), which is nearly antipodal to Kapiti Coast Airport (meaning Kapiti Coast Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Salamanca-Matacán Airport), and is located 12,411 miles (19,973 kilometers) away in Salamanca, Spain.
• In 1949 a Lockheed Lodestar from Whenuapai crashed into the Tararua Range.
• The closest airport to Kapiti Coast Airport (PPQ) is Wellington International Airport (WLG), which is located 31 miles (49 kilometers) SSW of PPQ.
• Kapiti Coast Airport (PPQ) has 3 runways.
• In early 2007, the airport was sold by its first private owners to property developer Noel Robinson for NZ$40 million.
• The Kapiti Aero Club is based at the airport, along with other private fliers and charter businesses.
• As recently as 1992, alternate sites for a new airport for Wellington were investigated, including Paraparaumu, but a decision was made to upgrade Wellington Airport's existing site.
• Originally government-owned, the Kapiti Coast Airport was the greater Wellington region's main airport until Wellington International Airport re-opened in 1959.

Facts about George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU):

• The closest airport to George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU) is Hewanorra International Airport (UVF), which is located 20 miles (32 kilometers) S of SLU.
• The furthest airport from George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU) is Umbu Mehang Kunda Airport (WGP), which is nearly antipodal to George F. L. Charles Airport (meaning George F. L. Charles Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Umbu Mehang Kunda Airport), and is located 12,124 miles (19,511 kilometers) away in Waingapu, Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
• George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU) currently has only 1 runway.
• The airport houses the George Charles Outstation of the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority., General Aviation Services, and the Island Flyers Club.
• Because of George F. L. Charles Airport's relatively low elevation of 22 feet, planes can take off or land at George F. L. Charles 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.