Nonstop flight route between Sioux City, Iowa, United States and Lifuka, Ha'apai, Tonga:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Sioux Gateway Airport (SUX), Sioux City, Iowa, United States and Lifuka Island Airport (HPA), Lifuka, Ha'apai, Tonga would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,548 miles (or 10,538 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 Sioux Gateway Airport and Lifuka Island 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 Sioux Gateway Airport and Lifuka Island Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Sioux Gateway Airport (SUX):

• For several years the only airline service was from Northwest Airlines, commuter service on Northwest Airlink to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport.
• In the year ending November 30, 2012 the airport had 18,258 aircraft operations, an average of 50 per day.
• Sioux City Army Air Base closed in December 1945, but in September 1946 the airfield was opened by the Air Force Reserve.
• Sioux Gateway Airport (SUX) has 2 runways.
• The furthest airport from Sioux Gateway Airport (SUX) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 10,641 miles (17,125 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
• By the mid-1960s ADC was reducing its forces, and on April 1, 1966 the 31st AD was reassigned and the airport was turned over to the Air Force Reserve and Iowa Air National Guard for limited military use.
• In June 2011 work was completed on a $6.2 million remodeling of the 58-year-old terminal building.
• The closest airport to Sioux Gateway Airport (SUX) is Le Mars Municipal Airport (LRJ), which is located 28 miles (45 kilometers) NNE of SUX.
• American Airlines announced on December 9, 2011 that their subsidiary, American Eagle Airlines, would begin serving Sioux City from Chicago O'Hare in the spring of 2012.
• In addition to being known as "Sioux Gateway Airport", another name for SUX is "Colonel Bud Day Field".

Facts about Lifuka Island Airport (HPA):

• The closest airport to Lifuka Island Airport (HPA) is Fuaʻamotu International Airport (TBU), which is located 114 miles (183 kilometers) SSW of HPA.
• The furthest airport from Lifuka Island Airport (HPA) is In Guezzam Airport (INF), which is nearly antipodal to Lifuka Island Airport (meaning Lifuka Island Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from In Guezzam Airport), and is located 12,421 miles (19,989 kilometers) away in In Guezzam, Algeria.
• Lifuka Island Airport (HPA) currently has only 1 runway.
• Because of Lifuka Island Airport's relatively low elevation of 31 feet, planes can take off or land at Lifuka Island 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.
• In addition to being known as "Lifuka Island Airport", another name for HPA is "Salote Pilolevu Airport".