Nonstop flight route between San Francisco, California, United States and Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(37°37'8"N by 122°22'30"W)
Arrival Airport:
(26°8'21"S by 28°14'45"E)
Distance from SFO to JNB:
10,549.94 miles (16,978.44 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- SFO Airport Information
- JNB Airport Information
- Facts about SFO
- Facts about JNB
- 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 JNB
- List of Nearest Airports to JNB
- Map of Furthest Airports from JNB
- List of Furthest Airports from JNB
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between San Francisco International Airport (SFO), San Francisco, California, United States and O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 10,550 miles (or 16,978 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 O. R. Tambo 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 O. R. Tambo 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: | JNB / FAOR |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 26°8'21"S by 28°14'45"E |
| Area Served: | Johannesburg, South Africa Pretoria, South Africa |
| Operator/Owner: | Airports Company South Africa |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 5558 feet (1,694 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from JNB |
| More Information: | JNB Maps & Info |
Facts about San Francisco International Airport (SFO):
- 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 handled 44,477,209 passengers last year.
- All SkyTeam, Oneworld and non-aligned international carriers operate from Boarding Area A.
- United Airlines used Mills Field as well as the Oakland Municipal Airport starting in the 1930s.
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has 4 runways.
- SFO was also one of the first U.S.
- 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.
- Since the mid-2000s recovery at SFO has been evident.
- SFO is the largest airport in the Bay Area and the second busiest in California, after Los Angeles International Airport.
- 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.
Facts about O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB):
- The two terminals A and B have been restructured.
- There are two parallel north-south runways and a disused cross runway.
- Critics noted the considerable expense involved in renaming the airport, and the decision to use a politician as the name would be obscure, confusing and in some instances, offensive.
- O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) has 2 runways.
- O. R. Tambo International Airport handled 18,794,897 passengers last year.
- In addition to being known as "O. R. Tambo International Airport", another name for JNB is "Johannesburg International Airport".
- It was formerly officially known as Johannesburg International Airport and before that as Jan Smuts International Airport after South Africa's internationally renowned statesman by that name.
- The closest airport to O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) is Rand Airport (QRA), which is located only 9 miles (15 kilometers) SW of JNB.
- The airport was founded in 1952 as "Jan Smuts Airport", two years after his death, near the town of Kempton Park on the East Rand.
- The furthest airport from O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) is Hana Airport (HNM), which is located 11,979 miles (19,279 kilometers) away in Hana, Hawaii, United States.
- Because of O. R. Tambo International Airport's high elevation of 5,558 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at JNB. Combined with a high temperature, this could make JNB a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- A second terminal between the two runways has also been mooted, which is proposed for completion by 2012.
| 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 | 9.26 miles (14.90 km) SW | Rand Airport (QRA) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 2 | 12.44 miles (20.02 km) NNW | Grand Central Airport (GCJ) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 3 | 24.22 miles (38.98 km) NW | Lanseria International Airport (HLA) | Lanseria, South Africa | |
| 4 | 27.05 miles (43.54 km) SSE | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| 5 | 33.58 miles (54.04 km) N | Wonderboom Airport (PRY) | Pretoria, South Africa | |
| 6 | 86.92 miles (139.89 km) NW | Pilanesberg International Airport (NTY) | Pilanesberg, South Africa | |
| 7 | 169.37 miles (272.57 km) W | Mafikeng Airport (MBD) | Mmabatho, South Africa | |
| 8 | 170.58 miles (274.53 km) WNW | Lobatse Airport (LOQ) | Lobatse, Botswana | |
| 9 | 175.74 miles (282.82 km) NNE | Polokwane International Airport (PTG) | Polokwane, South Africa | |
| 10 | 181.93 miles (292.80 km) NW | Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) | Gaborone, Botswana | |
| 11 | 185.43 miles (298.43 km) ENE | Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) | Nelspruit, South Africa | |
| 12 | 188.06 miles (302.65 km) S | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 13 | 191.47 miles (308.14 km) E | Matsapha Airport (MTS) | Manzini, Swaziland | |
| 14 | 192.33 miles (309.53 km) SSE | Ladysmith Airport (LAY) | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 15 | 214.26 miles (344.81 km) NE | Air Force Base Hoedspruit (HDS) | Hoedspruit, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,979.48 miles (19,279.06 km) NE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,969.05 miles (19,262.27 km) NE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,962.60 miles (19,251.89 km) NE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,962.55 miles (19,251.81 km) NE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,954.50 miles (19,238.86 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,954.19 miles (19,238.36 km) NE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,946.32 miles (19,225.69 km) NNE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,945.21 miles (19,223.91 km) NNE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,941.61 miles (19,218.12 km) NE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,933.94 miles (19,205.77 km) NNE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,925.78 miles (19,192.64 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,923.96 miles (19,189.70 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,923.96 miles (19,189.70 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,922.16 miles (19,186.81 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,917.18 miles (19,178.80 km) NNE | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |