Nonstop flight route between Saipan Island, Northern Mariana Islands and Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal:
Departure Airport:
(15°7'8"N by 145°43'45"E)
Arrival Airport:
(37°44'30"N by 25°41'52"W)
Distance from SPN to PDL:
8,742.28 miles (14,069.30 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- SPN Airport Information
- PDL Airport Information
- Facts about SPN
- Facts about PDL
- Map of Nearest Airports to SPN
- List of Nearest Airports to SPN
- Map of Furthest Airports from SPN
- List of Furthest Airports from SPN
- Map of Nearest Airports to PDL
- List of Nearest Airports to PDL
- Map of Furthest Airports from PDL
- List of Furthest Airports from PDL
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Saipan International Airport (SPN), Saipan Island, Northern Mariana Islands and João Paulo II Airport (PDL), Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,742 miles (or 14,069 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 Saipan International Airport and João Paulo II 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 Saipan International Airport and João Paulo II Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SPN / PGSN |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Saipan Island, Northern Mariana Islands |
| GPS Coordinates: | 15°7'8"N by 145°43'45"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Commonwealth Ports Authority |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 215 feet (66 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SPN |
| More Information: | SPN Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | PDL / LPPD |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal |
| GPS Coordinates: | 37°44'30"N by 25°41'52"W |
| Area Served: | Ponta Delgada |
| Operator/Owner: | Government of Portugal |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 259 feet (79 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PDL |
| More Information: | PDL Maps & Info |
Facts about Saipan International Airport (SPN):
- Once in American hands, Isely Field was expanded considerably to support Twentieth Air Force B-29 Superfortress operations.
- A Star Marianas plane crashed during takeoff on November 17, 2012 on its return from Tinian.
- In addition to being known as "Saipan International Airport", other names for SPN include "Francisco C. Ada Airport" and "GSN".
- Because of Saipan International Airport's relatively low elevation of 215 feet, planes can take off or land at Saipan 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 airfield was liberated by the United States Army 27th Infantry Division on June 18, 1944 during the Battle of Saipan.
- The furthest airport from Saipan International Airport (SPN) is Salvador-Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport (2 de Julho) (SSA), which is nearly antipodal to Saipan International Airport (meaning Saipan International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Salvador-Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport (2 de Julho)), and is located 12,125 miles (19,514 kilometers) away in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
- After several months of disappointing high level bombing attacks from Isely, General Curtis LeMay, Commander of Twentieth Air Force issued a new directive that the high-altitude, daylight attacks be phased out and replaced by low-altitude, high-intensity incendiary raids at nighttime, being followed up with high explosive bombs once the targets were set ablaze.
- The closest airport to Saipan International Airport (SPN) is Tinian International Airport (TIQ), which is located only 11 miles (18 kilometers) SW of SPN.
- Saipan International Airport (SPN) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about João Paulo II Airport (PDL):
- João Paulo II Airport, named after Pope John Paul II, is an airport located on the island of São Miguel, 2 km west of the city dock of Ponta Delgada on the Azores in Portugal.
- Because of João Paulo II Airport's relatively low elevation of 259 feet, planes can take off or land at João Paulo II 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.
- João Paulo II Airport (PDL) currently has only 1 runway.
- João Paulo II Airport handled 928,801 passengers last year.
- In addition to being known as "João Paulo II Airport", another name for PDL is "Aeroporto João Paulo II".
- The furthest airport from João Paulo II Airport (PDL) is Merimbula Airport (MIM), which is nearly antipodal to João Paulo II Airport (meaning João Paulo II Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Merimbula Airport), and is located 12,188 miles (19,615 kilometers) away in Merimbula, New South Wales, Australia.
- The closest airport to João Paulo II Airport (PDL) is Santa Maria Airport (SMA), which is located 60 miles (97 kilometers) SSE of PDL.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11.06 miles (17.80 km) SW | Tinian International Airport (TIQ) | Tinian Island, Northern Mariana Islands |     |
| 2 | 72.92 miles (117.36 km) SSW | Rota International Airport (ROP) | Rota Island, Northern Mariana Islands | |
| 3 | 119.13 miles (191.72 km) SSW | Andersen Air Force Base (UAM) | Agana, Guam | |
| 4 | 129.06 miles (207.70 km) SSW | Guam International Airport (GUM) | Hagåtña, Guam | |
| 5 | 533.30 miles (858.26 km) SW | Falalop Airfield (ULI) | Falalop Island, Yap, Federated States of Micronesia | |
| 6 | 645.75 miles (1,039.22 km) SW | Yap International Airport (YAP) | Yap, Federated States of Micronesia | |
| 7 | 671.70 miles (1,081.00 km) SE | Chuuk International Airport (TKK) | Weno, Federated States of Micronesia | |
| 8 | 726.36 miles (1,168.96 km) NNW | Central Field (Iwo Jima)Motoyama No. 2Airfield No. 2 (IWO) | Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands, Japan | |
| 9 | 829.80 miles (1,335.42 km) NE | Minamitorishima Air Field (MUS) | Minami-Tori-shima, Japan | |
| 10 | 927.56 miles (1,492.75 km) SW | Roman Tmetuchl International Airport (ROR) | Koror, Palau | |
| 11 | 1,015.16 miles (1,633.73 km) ESE | Pohnpei International Airport (PNI) | Kolonia, Federated States of Micronesia | |
| 12 | 1,146.10 miles (1,844.46 km) E | Enewetak Auxiliary Airfield (ENT) | Enewetak, Marshall Islands | |
| 13 | 1,192.41 miles (1,919.00 km) NW | Minami-Daito Airport (MMD) | Minami Daito, Okinawa, Japan | |
| 14 | 1,192.72 miles (1,919.50 km) S | Momote Airport (MAS) | Los Negros Island, Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea | |
| 15 | 1,193.19 miles (1,920.24 km) NW | Kitadaito Airport (KTD) | Kitadaito, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,125.20 miles (19,513.57 km) ESE | Salvador-Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport (2 de Julho) (SSA) | Salvador, Bahia, Brazil | |
| 2 | 12,118.20 miles (19,502.30 km) E | Ilhéus/Bahia-Jorge Amado Airport (IOS) | Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil | |
| 3 | 12,104.44 miles (19,480.16 km) ESE | Porto Seguro Airport (BPS) | Porto Seguro, Brazil | |
| 4 | 12,094.54 miles (19,464.23 km) SE | Aracaju–Santa Maria Airport (AJU) | Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil | |
| 5 | 12,036.52 miles (19,370.86 km) SSE | Maceió/Zumbi dos Palmares International Airport (MCZ) | Maceió, Brazil | |
| 6 | 11,996.47 miles (19,306.39 km) E | Pedro Otacílio Figueiredo Airport (VDC) | Vitória da Conquista, Brazil | |
| 7 | 11,951.65 miles (19,234.27 km) S | Recife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC) | Recife, Brazil | |
| 8 | 11,932.95 miles (19,204.17 km) ESE | Coronel Horácio de Mattos Airport (LEC) | Lençõis, Bahia, Brazil | |
| 9 | 11,905.05 miles (19,159.28 km) SE | Vitória-Eurico de Aguiar Salles Airport (Goiabeiras) (VIX) | Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil | |
| 10 | 11,884.00 miles (19,125.40 km) S | Presidente Castro Pinto International Airport (JPA) | João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil | |
| 11 | 11,883.39 miles (19,124.42 km) SSE | Presidente João Suassuna Airport (CPV) | Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil | |
| 12 | 11,866.48 miles (19,097.20 km) E | Guanambi Airport (GNM) | Guanambi, Bahia, Brazil | |
| 13 | 11,864.21 miles (19,093.54 km) ESE | Coronel Altino Machado de Oliveira Airport (GVR) | Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil | |
| 14 | 11,853.53 miles (19,076.36 km) SE | Petrolina–Senador Nilo Coelho Airport (PNZ) | Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil | |
| 15 | 11,834.75 miles (19,046.13 km) SE | Raimundo de Andrade Airport (CDI) | Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Brazil | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 60.44 miles (97.26 km) SSE | Santa Maria Airport (SMA) | Santa Maria, Portugal | |
| 2 | 103.34 miles (166.31 km) NW | Lajes Air Base (TER) | Lajes, Azores, Portugal | |
| 3 | 156.93 miles (252.55 km) NW | Graciosa Airport (GRW) | Graciosa Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 4 | 159.29 miles (256.35 km) WNW | Pico Airport (PIX) | Pico Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 5 | 172.63 miles (277.82 km) WNW | Horta International Airport (HOR) | Horta, Azores, Portugal | |
| 6 | 316.43 miles (509.24 km) WNW | Flores Airport (FLW) | Flores Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 7 | 320.87 miles (516.39 km) WNW | Corvo Airport (CVU) | Corvo Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 8 | 612.01 miles (984.94 km) ESE | Madeira Airport (FNC) | Funchal, Madeira, Portugal | |
| 9 | 617.02 miles (992.99 km) ESE | Porto Santo Airport (PXO) | Porto Santo, Madeira, Portugal | |
| 10 | 778.77 miles (1,253.30 km) SE | La Palma Airport (SPC) | La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 11 | 831.34 miles (1,337.91 km) SE | La Gomera Airport (GMZ) | Alajeró / San Sebastián, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 12 | 837.14 miles (1,347.25 km) SE | Tenerife North Airport (TFN) | Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 13 | 852.96 miles (1,372.70 km) SE | Tenerife-South Airport (TFS) | Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 14 | 900.23 miles (1,448.78 km) E | Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS) | Lisbon, Portugal | |
| 15 | 903.04 miles (1,453.30 km) SE | Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) | Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,188.27 miles (19,615.07 km) ESE | Merimbula Airport (MIM) | Merimbula, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 2 | 12,173.93 miles (19,591.99 km) ESE | Moruya Airport (MYA) | Moruya, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 3 | 12,142.36 miles (19,541.18 km) SE | Illawarra Regional Airport (WOL) | Shellharbour, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 4 | 12,121.54 miles (19,507.68 km) SE | Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD) | Mascot (near Sydney), Australia | |
| 5 | 12,114.35 miles (19,496.11 km) SE | Bankstown Airport (BWU) | Bankstown (near Sydney), New South Wales, Australia | |
| 6 | 12,110.70 miles (19,490.24 km) SE | Camden Aerodrome (CDU) | Camden, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 7 | 12,110.58 miles (19,490.03 km) SE | Goulburn Airport (GUL) | Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 8 | 12,107.15 miles (19,484.52 km) ESE | Canberra Airport (CBR) | Canberra, Australia | |
| 9 | 12,080.91 miles (19,442.30 km) SSE | Belmont Airport (BEO) | Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 10 | 12,069.15 miles (19,423.37 km) E | Bairnsdale Aerodrome (BSJ) | Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia | |
| 11 | 12,067.78 miles (19,421.16 km) SSE | Newcastle Airport (NTL) | Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 12 | 12,066.74 miles (19,419.49 km) ESE | Corryong Airport (CYG) | Corryong, Victoria, Australia | |
| 13 | 12,060.89 miles (19,410.07 km) ESE | Flinders Island Airport (FLS) | Flinders Island, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 14 | 12,056.02 miles (19,402.24 km) SSE | Cessnock Airport (CES) | Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 15 | 12,054.20 miles (19,399.31 km) SSE | Maitland Airport (MTL) | Maitland, New South Wales, Australia | |