Nonstop flight route between Reno, Nevada, United States and Lifuka, Ha'apai, Tonga:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Reno–Tahoe International Airport (RNO), Reno, Nevada, United States and Lifuka Island Airport (HPA), Lifuka, Ha'apai, Tonga would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,398 miles (or 8,688 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 Reno–Tahoe International Airport and Lifuka Island 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 Reno–Tahoe International Airport and Lifuka Island 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 Reno–Tahoe International Airport (RNO):

• The closest airport to Reno–Tahoe International Airport (RNO) is Carson Airport (CSN), which is located 21 miles (34 kilometers) S of RNO.
• Reno–Tahoe International was the hub of Reno Air, a now-defunct medium sized airline that had MD-80 and MD-90s to many cities until it was bought by American Airlines and later disposed of in 2001.
• Reno–Tahoe Airport Authority officials announced in early 2011 that a $5 million remodel of the baggage claim area will begin in late 2011 and be completed in mid to late 2012, the project will bring the new look and feel of the renovated ticket lobby to the baggage claim.
• The furthest airport from Reno–Tahoe International Airport (RNO) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,175 miles (17,984 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
• Reno–Tahoe International Airport (RNO) has 3 runways.
• Reno–Tahoe International Airport handled 3,431,986 passengers last year.
• Because of Reno–Tahoe International Airport's high elevation of 4,415 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at RNO. Combined with a high temperature, this could make RNO a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
• In the fall of 2010, the airport opened a new 200-foot ATCT replacing the old control tower for more than 50 years.

Facts about Lifuka Island Airport (HPA):

• Lifuka Island Airport (HPA) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from Lifuka Island Airport (HPA) is In Guezzam Airport (INF), which is nearly antipodal to Lifuka Island Airport (meaning Lifuka Island Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from In Guezzam Airport), and is located 12,421 miles (19,989 kilometers) away in In Guezzam, Algeria.
• In addition to being known as "Lifuka Island Airport", another name for HPA is "Salote Pilolevu Airport".
• The closest airport to Lifuka Island Airport (HPA) is Fuaʻamotu International Airport (TBU), which is located 114 miles (183 kilometers) SSW of HPA.
• Because of Lifuka Island Airport's relatively low elevation of 31 feet, planes can take off or land at Lifuka Island 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.