Nonstop flight route between Shanghai, China and Decatur, Alabama, United States:
Departure Airport:
(31°11'53"N by 121°20'11"E)
Arrival Airport:
(34°39'15"N by 86°56'43"W)
Distance from SHA to DCU:
7,529.20 miles (12,117.05 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- SHA Airport Information
- DCU Airport Information
- Facts about SHA
- Facts about DCU
- Map of Nearest Airports to SHA
- List of Nearest Airports to SHA
- Map of Furthest Airports from SHA
- List of Furthest Airports from SHA
- Map of Nearest Airports to DCU
- List of Nearest Airports to DCU
- Map of Furthest Airports from DCU
- List of Furthest Airports from DCU
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA), Shanghai, China and Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU), Decatur, Alabama, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,529 miles (or 12,117 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 Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and Pryor Field Regional 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 Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and Pryor Field Regional Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SHA / ZSSS |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Shanghai, China |
| GPS Coordinates: | 31°11'53"N by 121°20'11"E |
| Area Served: | Shanghai |
| Operator/Owner: | Shanghai Airport Authority |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 10 feet (3 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SHA |
| More Information: | SHA Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | DCU / KDCU |
| Airport Name: | Pryor Field Regional Airport |
| Location: | Decatur, Alabama, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 34°39'15"N by 86°56'43"W |
| Area Served: | Decatur, Alabama |
| Operator/Owner: | Decatur/Athens Airport Authority |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 592 feet (180 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from DCU |
| More Information: | DCU Maps & Info |
Facts about Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA):
- In addition to being known as "Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport", other names for SHA include "上海虹桥国际机场" and "Shànghǎi Hóngqiáo Guójì Jīchǎng".
- An airport was first built in the town of Hongqiao in the west of Shanghai in 1907, initially as a small military airfield.
- The furthest airport from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) is Comodoro Pierrestegui Airport (COC), which is nearly antipodal to Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (meaning Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Comodoro Pierrestegui Airport), and is located 12,397 miles (19,951 kilometers) away in Concordia, Entre Ríos, Argentina.
- The closest airport to Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) is Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), which is located 28 miles (45 kilometers) E of SHA.
- Because of Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport's relatively low elevation of 10 feet, planes can take off or land at Shanghai Hongqiao 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.
- Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) has 2 runways.
- Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport handled 33,851,200 passengers last year.
- The proposed extension of the Shanghai Maglev Train from Longyang Road through Shanghai South Railway Station to Hongqiao would connect the two airports.
Facts about Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU):
- The closest airport to Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU) is Huntsville International Airport (HSV), which is located only 10 miles (16 kilometers) E of DCU.
- Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU) currently has only 1 runway.
- Opened in October 1941 with 4,600 by 4,600 feet square all-direction turf runway.
- Because of Pryor Field Regional Airport's relatively low elevation of 592 feet, planes can take off or land at Pryor Field 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 furthest airport from Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,180 miles (17,992 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- In 2007, Chris Wright was struck by a propeller as he was "hand propping" starting his plane.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 27.98 miles (45.02 km) E | Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) | Shanghai, People's Republic of China |     |
| 2 | 55.47 miles (89.27 km) W | Suzhou Guangfu Airport (SZV) | Suzhou, Jiangsu, China | |
| 3 | 57.30 miles (92.22 km) WNW | Sunan Shuofang International Airport (WUX) | Wuxi/Suzhou, Jiangsu, China | |
| 4 | 85.73 miles (137.97 km) SW | Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) | Hangzhou, China | |
| 5 | 95.05 miles (152.96 km) S | Ningbo Lishe International Airport (NGB) | Ningbo, Zhejiang, China | |
| 6 | 103.69 miles (166.87 km) WNW | Changzhou Benniu Airport (CZX) | Changzhou, Jiangsu, China | |
| 7 | 106.54 miles (171.45 km) SE | Zhoushan Putuoshan Airport (HSN) | Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China | |
| 8 | 133.88 miles (215.47 km) NW | Yangzhou Taizhou Airport (YTY) | Yangzhou and Taizhou, Jiangsu, China | |
| 9 | 149.84 miles (241.15 km) SSW | Yiwu Airport (YIW) | Yiwu, Zhejiang, China | |
| 10 | 150.59 miles (242.34 km) WNW | Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG) | Nanjing, China | |
| 11 | 167.54 miles (269.64 km) NNW | Yancheng Nanyang Airport (YNZ) | Yancheng, Jiangsu, China | |
| 12 | 182.20 miles (293.23 km) S | Taizhou Luqiao Airport (HYN) | Taizhou, Zhejiang, China | |
| 13 | 212.15 miles (341.43 km) SW | Quzhou Airport (JUZ) | Quzhou, Zhejiang, China | |
| 14 | 218.51 miles (351.66 km) W | Chizhou Jiuhuashan Airport (JUH) | Chizhou and Tongling, Anhui, China | |
| 15 | 219.13 miles (352.66 km) NW | Huai'an Lianshui Airport (HIA) | Huai'an, Jiangsu, China | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,396.81 miles (19,950.69 km) W | Comodoro Pierrestegui Airport (COC) | Concordia, Entre Ríos, Argentina | |
| 2 | 12,393.45 miles (19,945.27 km) WSW | Nueva Hespérides International Airport (STY) | Salto, Salto, Uruguay | |
| 3 | 12,348.88 miles (19,873.55 km) SSW | Tydeo Larre Borges International Airport (PDU) | Paysandú, Paysandú, Uruguay | |
| 4 | 12,348.55 miles (19,873.01 km) SW | Monte Caseros Airport (MCS) | Monte Caseros, Corrientes, Argentina | |
| 5 | 12,330.07 miles (19,843.28 km) SSW | Curuzú Cuatiá Airport (UZU) | Curuzú Cuatiá, Corrientes, Argentina | |
| 6 | 12,322.11 miles (19,830.46 km) ESE | General Justo José de Urquiza Airport (PRA) | Paraná, Entre Ríos, Argentina | |
| 7 | 12,311.55 miles (19,813.47 km) S | Gualeguaychú Airport (GHU) | Gualeguaychú, Entre Ríos, Argentina | |
| 8 | 12,299.19 miles (19,793.58 km) SW | Ruben Berta International Airport (URG) | Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 9 | 12,299.07 miles (19,793.38 km) SW | Paso de los Libres Airport (AOL) | Paso de los Libres, Corrientes, Argentina | |
| 10 | 12,297.50 miles (19,790.86 km) WSW | Artigas International Airport (ATI) | Artigas, Artigas, Uruguay | |
| 11 | 12,295.79 miles (19,788.10 km) SSW | Mercedes Airport (MDX) | Mercedes, Corrientes, Argentina | |
| 12 | 12,286.65 miles (19,773.39 km) SSE | Reconquista Airport (RCQ) | Reconquista, Santa Fe, Argentina | |
| 13 | 12,271.04 miles (19,748.27 km) WSW | Tacuarembó Airport (TAW) | Tacuarembó, Tacuarembó, Uruguay | |
| 14 | 12,265.60 miles (19,739.52 km) SE | Rosario – Islas Malvinas International Airport (ROS) | Rosario, Argentina | |
| 15 | 12,247.57 miles (19,710.50 km) W | Pres. Gral. Óscar D. Gestido International Airport (RVY) | Rivera, Rivera, Uruguay | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 9.75 miles (15.69 km) E | Huntsville International Airport (HSV) | Huntsville / Decatur, Alabama, United States | |
| 2 | 14.90 miles (23.98 km) E | Redstone Army Airfield (AAF) (HUA) | Redstone Arsenal (near Huntsville), Alabama, United States | |
| 3 | 35.39 miles (56.96 km) NE | Fayetteville Municipal Airport (FYM) | Fayetteville, Tennessee, United States | |
| 4 | 38.30 miles (61.63 km) W | Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL) | Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States | |
| 5 | 63.59 miles (102.34 km) NNW | Maury County Airport (MRC) | Columbia/Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, United States | |
| 6 | 63.86 miles (102.77 km) NE | Tullahoma Regional Airport (THA) | Tullahoma, Tennessee, United States | |
| 7 | 67.85 miles (109.19 km) SE | Northeast Alabama Regional Airport (GAD) | Gadsden, Alabama, United States | |
| 8 | 68.70 miles (110.56 km) NNE | Shelbyville Municipal Airport (SYI) | Shelbyville, Tennessee, United States | |
| 9 | 70.49 miles (113.44 km) ENE | Franklin County Airport (UOS) | Sewanee, Tennessee, United States | |
| 10 | 70.57 miles (113.57 km) WSW | Marion County - Rankin Fite Airport (HAB) | Hamilton, Alabama, United States | |
| 11 | 76.14 miles (122.53 km) S | Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) | Birmingham, Alabama, United States | |
| 12 | 82.06 miles (132.06 km) ENE | Marion County Airport (APT) | Jasper, Tennessee, United States | |
| 13 | 85.51 miles (137.62 km) SSE | St. Clair County Airport (PLR) | Pell City, Alabama, United States | |
| 14 | 86.47 miles (139.16 km) NNW | Centerville Municipal Airport (GHM) | Centerville, Tennessee, United States | |
| 15 | 90.74 miles (146.03 km) SE | Talladega Municipal Airport (ASN) | Talladega, Alabama, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,179.89 miles (17,992.25 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,160.27 miles (17,960.66 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,140.94 miles (17,929.56 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,128.73 miles (17,909.90 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,124.24 miles (17,902.69 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,122.62 miles (17,900.07 km) W | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,110.85 miles (17,881.13 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,104.61 miles (17,871.09 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,103.33 miles (17,869.03 km) W | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,097.40 miles (17,859.49 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,074.48 miles (17,822.60 km) WSW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,050.67 miles (17,784.29 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,041.81 miles (17,770.02 km) W | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,035.79 miles (17,760.33 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,032.55 miles (17,755.12 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |