Nonstop flight route between Ponce, Puerto Rico and Nukuʻalofa, Tongatapu, Tonga:
Departure Airport:
(18°0'29"N by 66°33'47"W)
Arrival Airport:
(21°14'27"S by 175°8'57"W)
Distance from PSE to TBU:
7,823.91 miles (12,591.32 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- PSE Airport Information
- TBU Airport Information
- Facts about PSE
- Facts about TBU
- Map of Nearest Airports to PSE
- List of Nearest Airports to PSE
- Map of Furthest Airports from PSE
- List of Furthest Airports from PSE
- Map of Nearest Airports to TBU
- List of Nearest Airports to TBU
- Map of Furthest Airports from TBU
- List of Furthest Airports from TBU
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Mercedita Airport (PSE), Ponce, Puerto Rico and Fuaʻamotu International Airport (TBU), Nukuʻalofa, Tongatapu, Tonga would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,824 miles (or 12,591 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 Mercedita Airport and Fuaʻamotu 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 Mercedita Airport and Fuaʻamotu International Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | PSE / TJPS |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| GPS Coordinates: | 18°0'29"N by 66°33'47"W |
| Area Served: | Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Operator/Owner: | Puerto Rico Ports Authority |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 29 feet (9 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PSE |
| More Information: | PSE Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | TBU / NFTF |
| Airport Name: | Fuaʻamotu International Airport |
| Location: | Nukuʻalofa, Tongatapu, Tonga |
| GPS Coordinates: | 21°14'27"S by 175°8'57"W |
| Area Served: | Nukuʻalofa, Tonga |
| Operator/Owner: | Ministry of Civil Aviation |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 126 feet (38 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from TBU |
| More Information: | TBU Maps & Info |
Facts about Mercedita Airport (PSE):
- Passenger movement at the airport in FY 2008 was 278,911, a 1,228% increase over fiscal year 2003 and the highest of all the regional airports for that 5-year period.
- In addition to being known as "Mercedita Airport", other names for PSE include "Aeropuerto Mercedita" and "18.00'30"N, 66.33'47"W".
- On August 12, 1981, an Air Florida plane with 125 Haitian refugees aboard landed at Mercedita en route to the Fort Allen facility in Juana Diaz, part of the 1981 Haitian refugees exodus.
- The furthest airport from Mercedita Airport (PSE) is Barrow Island Airport (BWB), which is nearly antipodal to Mercedita Airport (meaning Mercedita Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Barrow Island Airport), and is located 12,201 miles (19,636 kilometers) away in Barrow Island, Western Australia, Australia.
- Mercedita Airport (PSE) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of Mercedita Airport's relatively low elevation of 29 feet, planes can take off or land at Mercedita 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 closest airport to Mercedita Airport (PSE) is Antonio (Nery) Juarbe Pol Airport (ARE), which is located 31 miles (51 kilometers) NNW of PSE.
- As per Federal Aviation Administration records, the airport had 110,159 passenger boardings in calendar year 2008, 90,267 enplanements in 2009, and 97,660 in 2010.
- After Ponce's mayor Rafael Cordero signed a contract to build a major seaport in the area, Mercedita's directors decided to expand the airport's runway to 8,000 ft to accommodate anticipated growth in airline traffic.
Facts about Fuaʻamotu International Airport (TBU):
- The furthest airport from Fuaʻamotu International Airport (TBU) is Aguenar – Hadj Bey Akhamok Airport (TMR), which is nearly antipodal to Fuaʻamotu International Airport (meaning Fuaʻamotu International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Aguenar – Hadj Bey Akhamok Airport), and is located 12,322 miles (19,830 kilometers) away in Tamanrasset, Algeria.
- It is the strength of the runway rather than the length that restricts operations from Fuaʻamotu.
- Fuaʻamotu International Airport (TBU) has 2 runways.
- The closest airport to Fuaʻamotu International Airport (TBU) is Lifuka Island Airport (HPA), which is located 114 miles (183 kilometers) NNE of TBU.
- Because of Fuaʻamotu International Airport's relatively low elevation of 126 feet, planes can take off or land at Fuaʻamotu 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.
- There is no public bus service to the airport, but several hostels and hotels in Nukuʻalofa meet flights and taxis are available.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 31.47 miles (50.65 km) NNW | Antonio (Nery) Juarbe Pol Airport (ARE) | Arecibo, Puerto Rico |     |
| 2 | 36.17 miles (58.21 km) NNE | Dorado Airport (DDP) | Dorado, Puerto Rico | |
| 3 | 42.06 miles (67.68 km) WNW | Eugenio María de Hostos Airport (MAZ) | Mayagüez, Puerto Rico | |
| 4 | 43.47 miles (69.96 km) NE | Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport (SIG) | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 5 | 47.35 miles (76.21 km) NE | Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 6 | 50.12 miles (80.66 km) NW | Rafael Hernández Airport (BQN) | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | |
| 7 | 50.86 miles (81.86 km) E | Humacao Airport (HUC) | Humacao, Puerto Rico, United States | |
| 8 | 62.68 miles (100.87 km) ENE | Diego Jiménez Torres Airport (FAJ) | Fajardo, Puerto Rico, United States | |
| 9 | 70.79 miles (113.92 km) E | Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport (VQS) | Vieques, Puerto Rico, United States | |
| 10 | 85.27 miles (137.24 km) ENE | Benjamín Rivera Noriega Airport (CPX) | Isla de Culebra, Puerto Rico | |
| 11 | 106.81 miles (171.89 km) ENE | Cyril E. King Airport (STT) | Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands | |
| 12 | 108.91 miles (175.28 km) ENE | Charlotte Amalie Harbor Seaplane Base (SPB) | Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands | |
| 13 | 117.72 miles (189.46 km) E | Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport (STX) | Christiansted, Saint Croix, United States Virgin Islands | |
| 14 | 123.50 miles (198.76 km) E | Christiansted Harbor Seaplane Base (SSB) | Christiansted, Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands | |
| 15 | 123.53 miles (198.81 km) WNW | Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) | Punta Cana, Dominican Republic | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,201.40 miles (19,636.20 km) SSW | Barrow Island Airport (BWB) | Barrow Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 12,150.11 miles (19,553.66 km) SW | Karratha Airport (KTA) | Karratha / Dampier, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 12,141.66 miles (19,540.07 km) S | RAAF Learmonth (LEA) | Exmouth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 12,060.71 miles (19,409.79 km) WSW | Port Hedland International Airport (PHE) | Port Hedland, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 12,053.10 miles (19,397.53 km) SW | Coolawanyah Station Airport (COY) | Coolawanyah Station, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 12,030.88 miles (19,361.78 km) SW | Solomon Airport (SLJ) | Karijini National Park, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 12,001.50 miles (19,314.49 km) SW | Tom Price Airport (TPR) | Tom Price, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,984.20 miles (19,286.66 km) SW | Paraburdoo Airport (PBO) | Paraburdoo, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,961.73 miles (19,250.49 km) S | Carnarvon Airport (CVQ) | Carnarvon, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,949.11 miles (19,230.19 km) SW | Coondewanna Airport (CJF) | Coondewanna, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,945.32 miles (19,224.07 km) SW | Barimunya Airport (BYP) | Barimunya, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,891.92 miles (19,138.15 km) S | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,881.15 miles (19,120.80 km) SW | Newman Airport (ZNE) | Newman, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,859.11 miles (19,085.34 km) W | Broome International Airport (BME) | Broome, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,786.51 miles (18,968.51 km) S | Ngurah Rai International Airport (NRIA) (DPS) | Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 113.90 miles (183.31 km) NNE | Lifuka Island Airport (HPA) | Lifuka, Ha'apai, Tonga | |
| 2 | 364.62 miles (586.80 km) NW | Cicia Airport (ICI) | Cicia, Fiji | |
| 3 | 367.99 miles (592.23 km) WNW | Moala Airport (MFJ) | Moala, Moala Islands, Fiji | |
| 4 | 370.23 miles (595.82 km) ENE | Niue International Airport (IUE) | Alofi, Niue | |
| 5 | 393.03 miles (632.51 km) N | Mata'aho Airport (NFO) | Niuafo'ou, Tonga | |
| 6 | 444.62 miles (715.54 km) NW | Koro Airport (KXF) | Koro Island, Fiji | |
| 7 | 459.57 miles (739.60 km) WNW | Vunisea Airport (KDV) | Vunisea, Kadavu Island, Fiji | |
| 8 | 465.13 miles (748.55 km) WNW | Suva International Airport (SUV) | Suva / Nausori, Viti Levu, Fiji | |
| 9 | 465.70 miles (749.47 km) WNW | Levuka Airfield (LEV) | Bureta, Ovalau Island, Fiji | |
| 10 | 488.42 miles (786.03 km) NW | Labasa Airport (LBS) | Labasa, Fiji | |
| 11 | 515.76 miles (830.04 km) NNW | Aéroport de Futuna - Pointe-Vele Pointe Vele Airport (FUT) | Futuna Island, Wallis and Futuna Islands | |
| 12 | 539.09 miles (867.58 km) WNW | Nadi International Airport (NAN) | Nadi, Fiji | |
| 13 | 551.98 miles (888.32 km) NNE | Maota (Salelologa) Airport (MXS) | Maota, Samoa | |
| 14 | 552.24 miles (888.74 km) NNE | Faleolo International Airport (APW) | Apia, Upolu Island, Samoa | |
| 15 | 555.29 miles (893.65 km) N | Wallis Island (WLS) | Wallis and Futuna Islands | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,321.72 miles (19,829.83 km) NNW | Aguenar – Hadj Bey Akhamok Airport (TMR) | Tamanrasset, Algeria | |
| 2 | 12,306.90 miles (19,805.99 km) NNW | In Guezzam Airport (INF) | In Guezzam, Algeria | |
| 3 | 12,201.76 miles (19,636.78 km) NW | Arlit Airport (RLT) | Arlit, Niger | |
| 4 | 12,184.07 miles (19,608.31 km) E | Bordj Mokhtar Airport (BMW) | Bordj Badji Mokhtar, Algeria | |
| 5 | 12,076.93 miles (19,435.89 km) NW | Mano Dayak International Airport (AJY) | Agadez, Niger | |
| 6 | 12,075.73 miles (19,433.96 km) NW | Djanet Tiska Airport (DJG) | Djanet, Algeria | |
| 7 | 12,005.93 miles (19,321.62 km) NW | Ghat Airport (GHT) | Ghat, Libya | |
| 8 | 11,996.67 miles (19,306.72 km) N | Tahoua Airport (THZ) | Tahoua, Niger | |
| 9 | 11,996.25 miles (19,306.04 km) NNE | In Salah Airport (INZ) | In Salah, Algeria | |
| 10 | 11,968.40 miles (19,261.22 km) NE | Gao International Airport (GAQ) | Gao, Mali | |
| 11 | 11,890.59 miles (19,136.01 km) NE | Tambao Airport (TMQ) | Tambao, Burkina Faso | |
| 12 | 11,882.02 miles (19,122.21 km) NE | Touat-Cheikh Sidi Mohamed Belkebir Airport (AZR) | Adrar, Algeria | |
| 13 | 11,881.53 miles (19,121.43 km) NNW | Maradi Airport (MFQ) | Maradi, Niger | |
| 14 | 11,878.41 miles (19,116.40 km) NNW | In Amenas Airport (IAM) | In Amenas, Algeria | |
| 15 | 11,872.34 miles (19,106.64 km) NNE | Diori Hamani International Airport (NIM) | Niamey, Niger | |