Nonstop flight route between Istanbul, Turkey and Hambantota, Sri Lanka:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW), Istanbul, Turkey and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI), Hambantota, Sri Lanka would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,978 miles (or 6,402 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 İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport and Mattala Rajapaksa 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 İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport and Mattala Rajapaksa International 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 İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW):

• The closest airport to İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) is Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST), which is located 26 miles (42 kilometers) WNW of SAW.
• In addition to this, the airport is located just 14 km from the town of Pendik's railway and sea-taxi stations.
• İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport handled 1,864,184 passengers last year.
• The airport's cargo terminal has a capacity of 90,000 tons per year and is equipped with 18 cold storage depots.
• In addition to being known as "İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport", another name for SAW is "Sabiha Gökçen Uluslararası Havalimanı".
• İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) is Rurutu Airport (RUR), which is located 11,160 miles (17,961 kilometers) away in Rurutu, French Polynesia.
• Because of İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport's relatively low elevation of 312 feet, planes can take off or land at İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen 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.

Facts about Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI):

• A new aerodrome designed to meet the ICAO specification for code 4F is to be built.
• The closest airport to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) is Weerawila Airport (WRZ), which is located only 8 miles (13 kilometers) ESE of HRI.
• The furthest airport from Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) is Seymour Airport (GPS), which is located 11,719 miles (18,860 kilometers) away in Baltra Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.
• Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) currently has only 1 runway.
• Because of Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport's relatively low elevation of 157 feet, planes can take off or land at Mattala Rajapaksa 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.
• On March 2013, it was reported that certifications of compliance and certification of aerodrome was awarded to the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport.
• In addition to being known as "Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport", another name for HRI is "මත්තල රාජපක්ෂ ජාත්‍යන්තර ගුවන්තොටුපළமத்தல ராஜபக்ஷ பன்னாட்டு விமான நிலையம்".
• The airport was declared open by the President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, on 18 March 2013 and commenced operations with the landing of a SriLankan Airlines special Airbus A340 flight named 'City of Magam Ruhunupura' with the President on board.
• On 24 January 2013, Sri Lanka Minister of Civil Aviation Piyankara Jayaratne said in parliament that the airport would be declared open on 18 March 2013.