Nonstop flight route between San Francisco, California, United States and Cape Town, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(37°37'8"N by 122°22'30"W)
Arrival Airport:
(33°58'9"S by 18°35'49"E)
Distance from SFO to CPT:
10,250.81 miles (16,497.04 km)
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- About this route
- SFO Airport Information
- CPT Airport Information
- Facts about SFO
- Facts about CPT
- 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 CPT
- List of Nearest Airports to CPT
- Map of Furthest Airports from CPT
- List of Furthest Airports from CPT
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between San Francisco International Airport (SFO), San Francisco, California, United States and Cape Town International Airport (CPT), Cape Town, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 10,251 miles (or 16,497 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 Cape Town 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 San Francisco International Airport and Cape Town 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: | 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: | CPT / FACT |
| Airport Name: | Cape Town International Airport |
| Location: | Cape Town, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 33°58'9"S by 18°35'49"E |
| Area Served: | Cape Town |
| Operator/Owner: | Airports Company South Africa |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 151 feet (46 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from CPT |
| More Information: | CPT Maps & Info |
Facts about San Francisco International Airport (SFO):
- In summer 2011, Lufthansa and Air France operated the Airbus A380 at SFO seasonally, the first A380 scheduled service to the airport.
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has 4 runways.
- 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.
- SFO was one of the first airports to implement a Fly Quiet Program which grades individual air carriers on their performance on noise abatement procedures while flying in and out 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.
- 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.
- All SkyTeam, Oneworld and non-aligned international carriers operate from Boarding Area A.
- San Francisco International Airport handled 44,477,209 passengers last year.
- The airport closed following the Loma Prieta earthquake on October 17, 1989, reopening the following morning.
- The FAA has warned that the airport's control tower would be unable to withstand a major earthquake and has requested that it be replaced.
Facts about Cape Town International Airport (CPT):
- Cape Town International Airport recorded 7.8 million passengers in 2008–2009, down from 8.4 million passengers the year before.
- In preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Cape Town International Airport was extensively expanded and renovated.
- Because of Cape Town International Airport's relatively low elevation of 151 feet, planes can take off or land at Cape Town 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.
- The closest airport to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is George Airport (GRJ), which is located 217 miles (349 kilometers) E of CPT.
- Cape Town International Airport is approximately 20 kilometres from the city centre and is accessible from the N2 freeway, with Airport Approach Road providing a direct link between the N2 and the airport.
- Cape Town International Airport (CPT) has 2 runways.
- Cape Town International Airport handled 8,505,563 passengers last year.
- The furthest airport from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is Princeville Airport (HPV), which is located 11,616 miles (18,693 kilometers) away in Hanalei, Hawaii, United States.
| 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 | 216.76 miles (348.84 km) E | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 2 | 309.01 miles (497.30 km) NNW | Kleinsee Airport (KLZ) | Kleinzee, South Africa | |
| 3 | 324.14 miles (521.66 km) N | Aggeneys Airport (AGZ) | Aggeneys, South Africa | |
| 4 | 324.14 miles (521.66 km) N | Wild Coast Sun Airport (MZF) | Mzamba, South Africa | |
| 5 | 392.20 miles (631.19 km) NNW | Alexander Bay Airport (ALJ) | Alexander Bay, South Africa | |
| 6 | 401.75 miles (646.55 km) E | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 7 | 410.22 miles (660.19 km) N | Karasburg Airport (KAS) | Karasburg, Namibia | |
| 8 | 415.63 miles (668.89 km) NNE | Upington Airport (UTN) | Upington, South Africa | |
| 9 | 476.49 miles (766.83 km) E | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 10 | 509.47 miles (819.90 km) NE | Kimberley Airport (KIM) | Kimberley, South Africa | |
| 11 | 514.16 miles (827.46 km) N | Keetmanshoop Airport (KMP) | Keetmanshoop, Namibia | |
| 12 | 532.99 miles (857.76 km) NNE | Johan Pienaar Airport (KMH) | Kuruman, South Africa | |
| 13 | 535.17 miles (861.26 km) E | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 14 | 541.34 miles (871.20 km) NNW | Lüderitz Airport (LUD) | Luderitz, Namibia | |
| 15 | 564.91 miles (909.13 km) NE | Bloemfontein International Airport (BFN) | Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,615.59 miles (18,693.43 km) N | Princeville Airport (HPV) | Hanalei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,605.52 miles (18,677.23 km) N | PMRF Barking Sands (BKH) | Kekaha, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,598.69 miles (18,666.23 km) N | Lihue Airport (LIH) | Lihue, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,595.51 miles (18,661.13 km) N | Port Allen Airport (PAK) | Hanapepe, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,558.75 miles (18,601.95 km) NNW | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,550.18 miles (18,588.17 km) NNW | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,538.63 miles (18,569.58 km) NNW | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,537.32 miles (18,567.47 km) NNW | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,537.32 miles (18,567.47 km) NNW | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,514.81 miles (18,531.24 km) NNW | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,513.09 miles (18,528.48 km) NNW | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,492.88 miles (18,495.95 km) NNW | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,486.14 miles (18,485.10 km) NNW | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,484.00 miles (18,481.66 km) NNW | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,468.86 miles (18,457.29 km) NNW | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |