Nonstop flight route between Nukuʻalofa, Tongatapu, Tonga and Mmabatho, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(21°14'27"S by 175°8'57"W)
Arrival Airport:
(25°48'27"S by 25°32'39"E)
Distance from TBU to MBD:
8,902.45 miles (14,327.08 km)
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- About this route
- TBU Airport Information
- MBD Airport Information
- Facts about TBU
- Facts about MBD
- Map of Nearest Airports to TBU
- List of Nearest Airports to TBU
- Map of Furthest Airports from TBU
- List of Furthest Airports from TBU
- Map of Nearest Airports to MBD
- List of Nearest Airports to MBD
- Map of Furthest Airports from MBD
- List of Furthest Airports from MBD
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Fuaʻamotu International Airport (TBU), Nukuʻalofa, Tongatapu, Tonga and Mafikeng Airport (MBD), Mmabatho, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,902 miles (or 14,327 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 Fuaʻamotu International Airport and Mafikeng 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 Fuaʻamotu International Airport and Mafikeng Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | TBU / NFTF |
| Airport Name: | Fuaʻamotu International Airport |
| Location: | Nukuʻalofa, Tongatapu, Tonga |
| GPS Coordinates: | 21°14'27"S by 175°8'57"W |
| Area Served: | Nukuʻalofa, Tonga |
| Operator/Owner: | Ministry of Civil Aviation |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 126 feet (38 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from TBU |
| More Information: | TBU Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | MBD / FAMM |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Mmabatho, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 25°48'27"S by 25°32'39"E |
| Area Served: | Mafikeng, South Africa |
| Operator/Owner: | Government |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 4181 feet (1,274 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MBD |
| More Information: | MBD Maps & Info |
Facts about Fuaʻamotu International Airport (TBU):
- Fuaʻamotu International Airport (TBU) has 2 runways.
- Until August 2006, Peau Vavaʻu used a DC-3 on their domestic routes, but this has recently been replaced with a Jetstream 41.
- The furthest airport from Fuaʻamotu International Airport (TBU) is Aguenar – Hadj Bey Akhamok Airport (TMR), which is nearly antipodal to Fuaʻamotu International Airport (meaning Fuaʻamotu International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Aguenar – Hadj Bey Akhamok Airport), and is located 12,322 miles (19,830 kilometers) away in Tamanrasset, Algeria.
- It is the strength of the runway rather than the length that restricts operations from Fuaʻamotu.
- The closest airport to Fuaʻamotu International Airport (TBU) is Lifuka Island Airport (HPA), which is located 114 miles (183 kilometers) NNE of TBU.
- Because of Fuaʻamotu International Airport's relatively low elevation of 126 feet, planes can take off or land at Fuaʻamotu 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 Mafikeng Airport (MBD):
- In addition to being known as "Mafikeng Airport", another name for MBD is "Mmabatho Airport".
- Because of Mafikeng Airport's high elevation of 4,181 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at MBD. Combined with a high temperature, this could make MBD a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- The closest airport to Mafikeng Airport (MBD) is Lobatse Airport (LOQ), which is located 43 miles (70 kilometers) NNE of MBD.
- Mafikeng Airport (MBD) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Mafikeng Airport (MBD) is Kalaupapa Airport (LUP), which is nearly antipodal to Mafikeng Airport (meaning Mafikeng Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Kalaupapa Airport), and is located 12,081 miles (19,443 kilometers) away in Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 113.90 miles (183.31 km) NNE | Lifuka Island Airport (HPA) | Lifuka, Ha'apai, Tonga |     |
| 2 | 364.62 miles (586.80 km) NW | Cicia Airport (ICI) | Cicia, Fiji | |
| 3 | 367.99 miles (592.23 km) WNW | Moala Airport (MFJ) | Moala, Moala Islands, Fiji | |
| 4 | 370.23 miles (595.82 km) ENE | Niue International Airport (IUE) | Alofi, Niue | |
| 5 | 393.03 miles (632.51 km) N | Mata'aho Airport (NFO) | Niuafo'ou, Tonga | |
| 6 | 444.62 miles (715.54 km) NW | Koro Airport (KXF) | Koro Island, Fiji | |
| 7 | 459.57 miles (739.60 km) WNW | Vunisea Airport (KDV) | Vunisea, Kadavu Island, Fiji | |
| 8 | 465.13 miles (748.55 km) WNW | Suva International Airport (SUV) | Suva / Nausori, Viti Levu, Fiji | |
| 9 | 465.70 miles (749.47 km) WNW | Levuka Airfield (LEV) | Bureta, Ovalau Island, Fiji | |
| 10 | 488.42 miles (786.03 km) NW | Labasa Airport (LBS) | Labasa, Fiji | |
| 11 | 515.76 miles (830.04 km) NNW | Aéroport de Futuna - Pointe-Vele Pointe Vele Airport (FUT) | Futuna Island, Wallis and Futuna Islands | |
| 12 | 539.09 miles (867.58 km) WNW | Nadi International Airport (NAN) | Nadi, Fiji | |
| 13 | 551.98 miles (888.32 km) NNE | Maota (Salelologa) Airport (MXS) | Maota, Samoa | |
| 14 | 552.24 miles (888.74 km) NNE | Faleolo International Airport (APW) | Apia, Upolu Island, Samoa | |
| 15 | 555.29 miles (893.65 km) N | Wallis Island (WLS) | Wallis and Futuna Islands | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,321.72 miles (19,829.83 km) NNW | Aguenar – Hadj Bey Akhamok Airport (TMR) | Tamanrasset, Algeria | |
| 2 | 12,306.90 miles (19,805.99 km) NNW | In Guezzam Airport (INF) | In Guezzam, Algeria | |
| 3 | 12,201.76 miles (19,636.78 km) NW | Arlit Airport (RLT) | Arlit, Niger | |
| 4 | 12,184.07 miles (19,608.31 km) E | Bordj Mokhtar Airport (BMW) | Bordj Badji Mokhtar, Algeria | |
| 5 | 12,076.93 miles (19,435.89 km) NW | Mano Dayak International Airport (AJY) | Agadez, Niger | |
| 6 | 12,075.73 miles (19,433.96 km) NW | Djanet Tiska Airport (DJG) | Djanet, Algeria | |
| 7 | 12,005.93 miles (19,321.62 km) NW | Ghat Airport (GHT) | Ghat, Libya | |
| 8 | 11,996.67 miles (19,306.72 km) N | Tahoua Airport (THZ) | Tahoua, Niger | |
| 9 | 11,996.25 miles (19,306.04 km) NNE | In Salah Airport (INZ) | In Salah, Algeria | |
| 10 | 11,968.40 miles (19,261.22 km) NE | Gao International Airport (GAQ) | Gao, Mali | |
| 11 | 11,890.59 miles (19,136.01 km) NE | Tambao Airport (TMQ) | Tambao, Burkina Faso | |
| 12 | 11,882.02 miles (19,122.21 km) NE | Touat-Cheikh Sidi Mohamed Belkebir Airport (AZR) | Adrar, Algeria | |
| 13 | 11,881.53 miles (19,121.43 km) NNW | Maradi Airport (MFQ) | Maradi, Niger | |
| 14 | 11,878.41 miles (19,116.40 km) NNW | In Amenas Airport (IAM) | In Amenas, Algeria | |
| 15 | 11,872.34 miles (19,106.64 km) NNE | Diori Hamani International Airport (NIM) | Niamey, Niger | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 43.45 miles (69.93 km) NNE | Lobatse Airport (LOQ) | Lobatse, Botswana | |
| 2 | 89.62 miles (144.23 km) NNE | Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) | Gaborone, Botswana | |
| 3 | 98.86 miles (159.10 km) NNW | Jwaneng Airport (JWA) | Jwaneng, Botswana | |
| 4 | 106.67 miles (171.67 km) ENE | Pilanesberg International Airport (NTY) | Pilanesberg, South Africa | |
| 5 | 148.34 miles (238.73 km) E | Lanseria International Airport (HLA) | Lanseria, South Africa | |
| 6 | 161.80 miles (260.39 km) E | Grand Central Airport (GCJ) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 7 | 164.61 miles (264.91 km) E | Rand Airport (QRA) | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 8 | 167.13 miles (268.97 km) E | Wonderboom Airport (PRY) | Pretoria, South Africa | |
| 9 | 169.37 miles (272.57 km) E | O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | |
| 10 | 174.18 miles (280.31 km) SW | Johan Pienaar Airport (KMH) | Kuruman, South Africa | |
| 11 | 183.09 miles (294.65 km) ESE | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| 12 | 212.36 miles (341.75 km) SSW | Kimberley Airport (KIM) | Kimberley, South Africa | |
| 13 | 231.79 miles (373.03 km) SSE | Bloemfontein International Airport (BFN) | Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa | |
| 14 | 260.86 miles (419.81 km) SE | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 268.46 miles (432.05 km) WNW | Hukuntsi Airport (HUK) | Hukuntsi, Botswana | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,081.43 miles (19,443.13 km) NNE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 12,076.67 miles (19,435.46 km) NNE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 12,075.25 miles (19,433.18 km) NNE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 12,074.28 miles (19,431.63 km) NNE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 12,073.76 miles (19,430.79 km) NNE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 12,061.80 miles (19,411.53 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 12,060.85 miles (19,410.00 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 12,056.85 miles (19,403.56 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 12,056.85 miles (19,403.56 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 12,055.41 miles (19,401.25 km) NNE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 12,050.73 miles (19,393.72 km) NE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 12,043.61 miles (19,382.26 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 12,035.62 miles (19,369.41 km) NE | Princeville Airport (HPV) | Hanalei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 12,030.37 miles (19,360.96 km) NE | Lihue Airport (LIH) | Lihue, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 12,028.29 miles (19,357.61 km) N | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |