Nonstop flight route between San Francisco, California, United States and Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(37°37'8"N by 122°22'30"W)
Arrival Airport:
(28°44'26"S by 32°5'30"E)
Distance from SFO to RCB:
10,844.48 miles (17,452.45 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- SFO Airport Information
- RCB Airport Information
- Facts about SFO
- Facts about RCB
- 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 RCB
- List of Nearest Airports to RCB
- Map of Furthest Airports from RCB
- List of Furthest Airports from RCB
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between San Francisco International Airport (SFO), San Francisco, California, United States and Richards Bay Airport (RCB), Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 10,844 miles (or 17,452 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 Richards Bay 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 Richards Bay 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: | RCB / FARB |
| Airport Name: | Richards Bay Airport |
| Location: | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 28°44'26"S by 32°5'30"E |
| Operator/Owner: | uMhlathuze Local Municipality |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 109 feet (33 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from RCB |
| More Information: | RCB Maps & Info |
Facts about San Francisco International Airport (SFO):
- Since the mid-2000s recovery at SFO has been evident.
- 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.
- Formerly known as the "North Terminal," Terminal 3 has Boarding Area E and Boarding Area F has 26 gates.
- 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.
- San Francisco International Airport handled 44,477,209 passengers last year.
- 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.
- SFO is the largest airport in the Bay Area and the second busiest in California, after Los Angeles International Airport.
Facts about Richards Bay Airport (RCB):
- The closest airport to Richards Bay Airport (RCB) is Hluhluwe Airport (HLW), which is located 52 miles (83 kilometers) NNE of RCB.
- Because of Richards Bay Airport's relatively low elevation of 109 feet, planes can take off or land at Richards Bay 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 Richards Bay Airport (RCB) is Hana Airport (HNM), which is located 11,689 miles (18,812 kilometers) away in Hana, Hawaii, United States.
- Richards Bay Airport (RCB) currently has only 1 runway.
| 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 | 51.82 miles (83.40 km) NNE | Hluhluwe Airport (HLW) | Hluhluwe, South Africa | |
| 2 | 84.75 miles (136.40 km) SW | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 3 | 119.80 miles (192.80 km) WSW | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 4 | 142.22 miles (228.88 km) W | Ladysmith Airport (LAY) | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 5 | 160.19 miles (257.81 km) NNW | Matsapha Airport (MTS) | Manzini, Swaziland | |
| 6 | 180.06 miles (289.77 km) SW | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 7 | 186.21 miles (299.68 km) WSW | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 8 | 197.06 miles (317.14 km) N | Maputo International Airport (MPM) | Maputo, Mozambique | |
| 9 | 221.74 miles (356.85 km) WSW | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 235.81 miles (379.50 km) WSW | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 11 | 239.78 miles (385.89 km) NNW | Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) | Nelspruit, South Africa | |
| 12 | 244.68 miles (393.77 km) W | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 13 | 254.51 miles (409.59 km) WSW | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 14 | 273.13 miles (439.56 km) N | Mala Mala Airport (AAM) | Mala Mala, South Africa | |
| 15 | 274.02 miles (441.00 km) WNW | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,688.97 miles (18,811.52 km) NE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,676.26 miles (18,791.08 km) NE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,668.75 miles (18,778.99 km) NE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,668.60 miles (18,778.74 km) NE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,667.34 miles (18,776.72 km) NE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,667.27 miles (18,776.61 km) NE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,660.70 miles (18,766.03 km) NE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,658.80 miles (18,762.97 km) NE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,649.90 miles (18,748.65 km) NE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,647.45 miles (18,744.70 km) NE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,631.35 miles (18,718.80 km) NE | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,629.30 miles (18,715.50 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,627.50 miles (18,712.60 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,627.50 miles (18,712.60 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,625.76 miles (18,709.81 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |