Nonstop flight route between Sanford, Maine, United States and East London, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(43°23'38"N by 70°42'29"W)
Arrival Airport:
(33°2'5"S by 27°49'17"E)
Distance from SFM to ELS:
8,132.44 miles (13,087.85 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- SFM Airport Information
- ELS Airport Information
- Facts about SFM
- Facts about ELS
- Map of Nearest Airports to SFM
- List of Nearest Airports to SFM
- Map of Furthest Airports from SFM
- List of Furthest Airports from SFM
- Map of Nearest Airports to ELS
- List of Nearest Airports to ELS
- Map of Furthest Airports from ELS
- List of Furthest Airports from ELS
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport (SFM), Sanford, Maine, United States and East London Airport (ELS), East London, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,132 miles (or 13,088 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 Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport and East London 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 Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport and East London Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SFM / KSFM |
| Airport Name: | Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport |
| Location: | Sanford, Maine, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 43°23'38"N by 70°42'29"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Town of Sanford |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 244 feet (74 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SFM |
| More Information: | SFM Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | ELS / FAEL |
| Airport Name: | East London Airport |
| Location: | East London, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 33°2'5"S by 27°49'17"E |
| Area Served: | East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 436 feet (133 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from ELS |
| More Information: | ELS Maps & Info |
Facts about Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport (SFM):
- Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport (SFM) has 2 runways.
- Because of Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport's relatively low elevation of 244 feet, planes can take off or land at Sanford Seacoast Regional 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 Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport (SFM) is Portsmouth International Airport at Pease (PSM), which is located 23 miles (36 kilometers) SSW of SFM.
- The furthest airport from Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport (SFM) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,712 miles (18,849 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
Facts about East London Airport (ELS):
- The airport was renamed in 1994.
- The closest airport to East London Airport (ELS) is Port Alfred Airport (AFD), which is located 65 miles (105 kilometers) WSW of ELS.
- Because of East London Airport's relatively low elevation of 436 feet, planes can take off or land at East London 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.
- Passenger flights were undertaken by two de Havilland Moth planes on Saturday afternoons and all day on Sundays, weather permitting.
- The furthest airport from East London Airport (ELS) is Kalaupapa Airport (LUP), which is located 11,569 miles (18,618 kilometers) away in Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States.
- East London Airport (ELS) has 2 runways.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 22.58 miles (36.34 km) SSW | Portsmouth International Airport at Pease (PSM) | Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States |     |
| 2 | 26.52 miles (42.67 km) NE | Portland International Jetport (PWM) | Portland, Maine, United States | |
| 3 | 37.72 miles (60.70 km) WNW | Laconia Municipal Airport (LCI) | Laconia, New Hampshire, United States | |
| 4 | 42.06 miles (67.69 km) WSW | Concord Municipal Airport (CON) | Concord, New Hampshire, United States | |
| 5 | 42.97 miles (69.15 km) NNW | Eastern Slopes Regional Airport (FRY) | Fryeburg, Maine, United States | |
| 6 | 48.58 miles (78.19 km) SW | Manchester–Boston Regional Airport (MHT) | Manchester, New Hampshire, United States | |
| 7 | 49.96 miles (80.40 km) NNE | Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport (LEW) | Auburn/Lewiston, Maine, United States | |
| 8 | 51.24 miles (82.46 km) SSW | Lawrence Municipal Airport (LWM) | Lawrence, Massachusetts, United States | |
| 9 | 51.63 miles (83.09 km) NE | Naval Air Station Brunswick (NHZ) | Brunswick, Maine, United States | |
| 10 | 56.93 miles (91.62 km) S | Beverly Municipal Airport (BVY) | Beverly, Massachusetts, United States | |
| 11 | 58.70 miles (94.47 km) SW | Nashua Airport (ASH) | Nashua, New Hampshire, United States | |
| 12 | 63.34 miles (101.94 km) NE | Wiscasset Airport (ISS) | Wiscasset, Maine, United States | |
| 13 | 70.27 miles (113.09 km) SSW | Laurence G. Hanscom Field (BED) | Bedford, Massachusetts, United States | |
| 14 | 72.63 miles (116.88 km) SW | Moore Army Airfield (AYE) | Leominster, Massachusetts, United States | |
| 15 | 72.81 miles (117.17 km) SSW | Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,712.18 miles (18,848.87 km) SSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,706.88 miles (18,840.35 km) SSW | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,696.68 miles (18,823.93 km) SW | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,689.83 miles (18,812.90 km) SSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,663.78 miles (18,770.99 km) SSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,629.74 miles (18,716.21 km) SW | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,579.73 miles (18,635.72 km) SSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,577.99 miles (18,632.92 km) SSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,566.03 miles (18,613.67 km) SSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,485.61 miles (18,484.25 km) SW | Esperance Airport (EPR) | Esperance, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,478.48 miles (18,472.77 km) SSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,387.94 miles (18,327.07 km) SSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,384.47 miles (18,321.48 km) SSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,359.25 miles (18,280.89 km) SW | Windarling Airport (WRN) | Windarling, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,358.29 miles (18,279.34 km) SW | Kambalda Airport (KDB) | Kambalda, Western Australia, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 65.15 miles (104.85 km) WSW | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 2 | 114.31 miles (183.96 km) NNE | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 3 | 143.28 miles (230.59 km) WSW | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 4 | 210.82 miles (339.28 km) NE | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 5 | 221.32 miles (356.17 km) N | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 6 | 222.73 miles (358.45 km) NNE | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 7 | 226.04 miles (363.78 km) N | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 8 | 228.78 miles (368.18 km) N | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 9 | 247.37 miles (398.09 km) N | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 269.67 miles (433.99 km) NNE | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 11 | 279.14 miles (449.23 km) NNE | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 12 | 286.72 miles (461.43 km) NNW | Bloemfontein International Airport (BFN) | Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa | |
| 13 | 289.10 miles (465.25 km) N | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 14 | 305.60 miles (491.81 km) NE | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 15 | 320.45 miles (515.72 km) WSW | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,568.58 miles (18,617.79 km) NNE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,567.16 miles (18,615.49 km) NNE | Princeville Airport (HPV) | Hanalei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,563.78 miles (18,610.05 km) NNE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,562.20 miles (18,607.51 km) NNE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,561.78 miles (18,606.84 km) NNE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,558.95 miles (18,602.28 km) NNE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,558.59 miles (18,601.70 km) NNE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,558.30 miles (18,601.24 km) NNE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,556.31 miles (18,598.04 km) NNE | Lihue Airport (LIH) | Lihue, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,554.09 miles (18,594.46 km) NNE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,554.09 miles (18,594.46 km) NNE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,549.72 miles (18,587.42 km) NNE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,545.26 miles (18,580.25 km) NNE | PMRF Barking Sands (BKH) | Kekaha, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,543.40 miles (18,577.26 km) NNE | Port Allen Airport (PAK) | Hanapepe, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,541.15 miles (18,573.63 km) NNE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |