Nonstop flight route between San Francisco, California, United States and Alula, Somalia:
Departure Airport:
(37°37'8"N by 122°22'30"W)
Arrival Airport:
(11°57'30"N by 50°44'53"E)
Distance from SFO to ALU:
8,982.43 miles (14,455.78 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- SFO Airport Information
- ALU Airport Information
- Facts about SFO
- Facts about ALU
- Map of Nearest Airports to SFO
- List of Nearest Airports to SFO
- Map of Furthest Airports from SFO
- List of Furthest Airports from SFO
- Map of Nearest Airports to ALU
- List of Nearest Airports to ALU
- Map of Furthest Airports from ALU
- List of Furthest Airports from ALU
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between San Francisco International Airport (SFO), San Francisco, California, United States and Alula Airport (ALU), Alula, Somalia would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,982 miles (or 14,456 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 San Francisco International Airport and Alula 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 San Francisco International Airport and Alula Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SFO / KSFO |
| Airport Name: | San Francisco International Airport |
| Location: | San Francisco, California, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 37°37'8"N by 122°22'30"W |
| Area Served: | San Francisco |
| Operator/Owner: | City & County of San Francisco |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 13 feet (4 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 4 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SFO |
| More Information: | SFO Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | ALU / HCMA |
| Airport Name: | Alula Airport |
| Location: | Alula, Somalia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 11°57'30"N by 50°44'53"E |
| Area Served: | Alula, Somalia |
| Operator/Owner: | Puntland Ministry for Civil Aviation and Airports |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 6 feet (2 meters) |
| View all routes: | Routes from ALU |
| More Information: | ALU Maps & Info |
Facts about San Francisco International Airport (SFO):
- The airport closed following the Loma Prieta earthquake on October 17, 1989, reopening the following morning.
- San Francisco International Airport handled 44,477,209 passengers last year.
- United Airlines used Mills Field as well as the Oakland Municipal Airport starting in the 1930s.
- The closest airport to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is Half Moon Bay AirportHalf Moon Bay Flight Strip (HAF), which is located only 10 miles (16 kilometers) SW of SFO.
- Because of San Francisco International Airport's relatively low elevation of 13 feet, planes can take off or land at San Francisco 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.
- Formerly known as the "North Terminal," Terminal 3 has Boarding Area E and Boarding Area F has 26 gates.
- The furthest airport from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,365 miles (18,290 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has 4 runways.
- In summer 2011, Lufthansa and Air France operated the Airbus A380 at SFO seasonally, the first A380 scheduled service to the airport.
Facts about Alula Airport (ALU):
- Because of Alula Airport's relatively low elevation of 6 feet, planes can take off or land at Alula 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 Alula Airport (ALU) is Candala Airport (CXN), which is located 65 miles (105 kilometers) WSW of ALU.
- The furthest airport from Alula Airport (ALU) is Pukarua Airport (PUK), which is located 11,759 miles (18,924 kilometers) away in Pukarua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10.04 miles (16.17 km) SW | Half Moon Bay AirportHalf Moon Bay Flight Strip (HAF) | Half Moon Bay, California, United States |     |
| 2 | 11.01 miles (17.72 km) NE | Oakland International Airport (OAK) | Oakland (near San Francisco), California, United States | |
| 3 | 14.13 miles (22.75 km) ENE | Hayward Executive Airport (HWD) | Hayward, California, United States | |
| 4 | 17.94 miles (28.87 km) SE | Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County (PAO) | Palo Alto, California, United States | |
| 5 | 22.78 miles (36.66 km) SE | Moffett Federal Airfield (NUQ) | Mountain View, California, United States | |
| 6 | 30.17 miles (48.56 km) SE | Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) | San Jose, California, United States | |
| 7 | 30.77 miles (49.52 km) E | Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK) | Livermore, California, United States | |
| 8 | 30.95 miles (49.81 km) NE | Buchanan FieldConcord Army Air Base (CCR) | Concord, California, United States | |
| 9 | 36.30 miles (58.42 km) ESE | Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (RHV) | San Jose, California, United States | |
| 10 | 37.58 miles (60.47 km) NNW | Marin County Airport (NOT) | Novato, California, United States | |
| 11 | 41.38 miles (66.60 km) N | Napa County Airport (APC) | Napa, California, United States | |
| 12 | 50.73 miles (81.65 km) NNE | Travis Air Force Base Fairfield-Suisun Army Airfield (SUU) | Fairfield, California, United States | |
| 13 | 57.06 miles (91.83 km) NNE | Nut Tree Airport (VCB) | Vacaville, California, United States | |
| 14 | 57.12 miles (91.93 km) SE | Watsonville Municipal Airport (WVI) | Watsonville, California, United States | |
| 15 | 64.94 miles (104.51 km) ENE | Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK) | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,365.15 miles (18,290.40 km) SE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 2 | 11,303.13 miles (18,190.57 km) S | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 3 | 11,274.07 miles (18,143.82 km) S | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 4 | 11,265.49 miles (18,130.00 km) SE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 5 | 11,249.16 miles (18,103.72 km) S | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 6 | 11,174.49 miles (17,983.56 km) SSE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 7 | 11,155.40 miles (17,952.83 km) SSW | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 8 | 11,154.88 miles (17,952.00 km) SSE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 11,066.46 miles (17,809.69 km) SE | Andavadoaka Airport (DVD) | Andavadoaka, Toliara province, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 11,064.08 miles (17,805.87 km) SE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 11,050.09 miles (17,783.36 km) SE | Morombe Airport (MXM) | Morombe, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 10,999.69 miles (17,702.25 km) SSE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 10,999.37 miles (17,701.72 km) SSE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,990.13 miles (17,686.86 km) SE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 10,969.17 miles (17,653.12 km) SE | Belo sur Tsiribihina Airport (BMD) | Belo sur Tsiribihina, Madagascar | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 65.24 miles (104.99 km) WSW | Candala Airport (CXN) | Candala, Somalia | |
| 2 | 118.02 miles (189.93 km) WSW | Bender Qassim International Airport (BSA) | Boosaaso, Somalia | |
| 3 | 208.39 miles (335.37 km) NNW | Riyan Airport (MKX) | Mukalla, Yemen | |
| 4 | 245.16 miles (394.55 km) WSW | Erigavo Airport (ERA) | Erigavo, Somalia | |
| 5 | 306.49 miles (493.25 km) NNW | Sayun AirportSeiyun Airport (GXF) | Seiyun, Yemen | |
| 6 | 307.79 miles (495.35 km) NNE | Al Ghaydha Airport (AAY) | Al Ghaydah, Yemen | |
| 7 | 318.83 miles (513.10 km) NW | Ataq Airport (AXK) | Ataq, Yemen | |
| 8 | 390.09 miles (627.79 km) WSW | Burao Airport (BUO) | Burao, Somalia | |
| 9 | 390.22 miles (628.00 km) WNW | Beihan Airport (BHN) | Beihan, Yemen | |
| 10 | 390.62 miles (628.63 km) W | Aden International Airport (ADE) | Aden, Yemen | |
| 11 | 408.28 miles (657.06 km) WSW | Berbera Airport (BBO) | Berbera, Somalia | |
| 12 | 416.18 miles (669.77 km) NNE | Salalah Airport (SLL) | Salalah, Oman | |
| 13 | 422.34 miles (679.69 km) SSW | Abdullahi Yusuf International Airport (GLK) | Galcaio, Somalia | |
| 14 | 460.95 miles (741.82 km) WNW | Ta'izz International Airport (TAI) | Ta'izz, Yemen | |
| 15 | 481.07 miles (774.21 km) SSW | Obbia Airport (CMO) | Obbia, Somalia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,758.86 miles (18,924.00 km) SE | Pukarua Airport (PUK) | Pukarua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 2 | 11,757.45 miles (18,921.73 km) ESE | Atuona Airport (AUQ) | Atuona, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 3 | 11,626.36 miles (18,710.77 km) SE | Nukutavake Airport (NUK) | Nukutavake, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 4 | 11,612.28 miles (18,688.11 km) ESE | Fangatau Airport (FGU) | Fangatau, French Polynesia | |
| 5 | 11,583.49 miles (18,641.77 km) SSE | Totegegie Airport (GMR) | Mangareva, Gambier Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 6 | 11,570.24 miles (18,620.44 km) SE | Tureira Airport (ZTA) | Tureia, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 7 | 11,549.81 miles (18,587.57 km) ESE | Hao Airport (HOI) | Hao, Tuamotu Island, French Polynesia | |
| 8 | 11,506.59 miles (18,518.01 km) ESE | Raroia Airport (RRR) | Raroia, French Polynesia | |
| 9 | 11,421.16 miles (18,380.53 km) ESE | Makemo Airport (MKP) | Makemo, French Polynesia | |
| 10 | 11,301.67 miles (18,188.22 km) ESE | Fakarava Airport (FAV) | Fakarava, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 11 | 11,292.82 miles (18,173.99 km) E | Manihi Airport (XMH) | Manihi, French Polynesia | |
| 12 | 11,288.49 miles (18,167.02 km) ESE | Anaa Airport (AAA) | Anaa, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 13 | 11,280.53 miles (18,154.20 km) E | Ahe Airport (AHE) | Ahe, French Polynesia | |
| 14 | 11,258.76 miles (18,119.17 km) ESE | Apataki Airport (APK) | Apataki, French Polynesia | |
| 15 | 11,248.92 miles (18,103.33 km) ESE | Arutua Airport (AXR) | Arutua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |