Nonstop flight route between Nukuʻalofa, Tongatapu, Tonga and Luqa, Malta:
Departure Airport:
(21°14'27"S by 175°8'57"W)
Arrival Airport:
(35°51'27"N by 14°28'38"E)
Distance from TBU to MLA:
11,271.65 miles (18,139.91 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- TBU Airport Information
- MLA Airport Information
- Facts about TBU
- Facts about MLA
- 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 MLA
- List of Nearest Airports to MLA
- Map of Furthest Airports from MLA
- List of Furthest Airports from MLA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Fuaʻamotu International Airport (TBU), Nukuʻalofa, Tongatapu, Tonga and Malta International Airport (MLA), Luqa, Malta would travel a Great Circle distance of 11,272 miles (or 18,140 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 Malta International 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 Malta International 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: | MLA / LMML |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Luqa, Malta |
| GPS Coordinates: | 35°51'27"N by 14°28'38"E |
| Area Served: | Malta |
| Operator/Owner: | Malta International Airport plc |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 300 feet (91 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MLA |
| More Information: | MLA Maps & Info |
Facts about Fuaʻamotu International Airport (TBU):
- Under Tongan law, Fuaʻamotu International Airport is closed on Sundays — only to be opened in distress, after the minister's approval.
- 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.
- Fuaʻamotu International Airport is equipped with VOR/DME and NDB navigational facilities.
- The closest airport to Fuaʻamotu International Airport (TBU) is Lifuka Island Airport (HPA), which is located 114 miles (183 kilometers) NNE of TBU.
- Fuaʻamotu International Airport (TBU) has 2 runways.
- Some short-haul international flights such as to Fiji or American Samoa also operate from Vavaʻu Island's Lupepauʻu Airport from time to time.
- 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 Malta International Airport (MLA):
- In addition to being known as "Malta International Airport", other names for MLA include "Luqa Airport" and "Valletta Airport".
- The MetOffice is able to get information from the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología in Madrid and the UK's Met Office along with numerical weather models such as those provided by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts in Reading, England.
- The furthest airport from Malta International Airport (MLA) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is located 11,639 miles (18,731 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
- Because of Malta International Airport's relatively low elevation of 300 feet, planes can take off or land at Malta 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 closest airport to Malta International Airport (MLA) is Xewkija / Gozo Heliport (GZM), which is located only 16 miles (26 kilometers) NW of MLA.
- Malta International Airport (MLA) has 2 runways.
- Ryanair based one aircraft in Malta from May 2010, increasing to two from May 2012.
- Malta International Airport handled 405,200 passengers last year.
- Services run between 2300 and 0400 on Friday and Saturday evenings, all year round.
- The airport car parking has considerably increased during 2009.
| 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 | 16.42 miles (26.43 km) NW | Xewkija / Gozo Heliport (GZM) | Xewkija, Gozo, Malta | |
| 2 | 78.69 miles (126.64 km) N | Comiso Airport (CIY) | Comiso, Italy | |
| 3 | 107.28 miles (172.65 km) WSW | Lampedusa Airport (LMP) | Lampedusa, Italy | |
| 4 | 109.50 miles (176.23 km) NNE | Naval Air Station Sigonella (NSY) | Catania, Italy | |
| 5 | 115.83 miles (186.42 km) NNE | Catania–Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) | Catania, Sicily, Italy | |
| 6 | 166.21 miles (267.48 km) NNE | Reggio di Calabria Airport (REG) | Reggio Calabria, Italy | |
| 7 | 177.68 miles (285.95 km) NNW | Falcone–Borsellino Airport (PMO) | Punta Raisi (near Palermo), Italy | |
| 8 | 179.36 miles (288.65 km) NW | Vincenzo Florio Airport Trapani-Birgi (TPS) | Trapani, Italy | |
| 9 | 208.70 miles (335.87 km) W | Monastir Habib Bourguiba International Airport (MIR) | Monastir, Tunisia | |
| 10 | 215.39 miles (346.64 km) SSW | Mitiga International Airport (MJI) | Tripoli, Libya | |
| 11 | 226.35 miles (364.27 km) W | Enfidha–Hammamet International Airport (NBE) | Enfidha, Tunisia | |
| 12 | 227.60 miles (366.28 km) WSW | Sfax–Thyna International Airport (SFA) | Sfax, Tunisia | |
| 13 | 231.79 miles (373.02 km) NNE | Lamezia Terme International Airport (SUF) | Lamezia Terme, Italy | |
| 14 | 232.82 miles (374.69 km) SSW | Tripoli International Airport (TIP) | Tripoli, Libya | |
| 15 | 246.25 miles (396.29 km) WNW | Tunis–Carthage Airport (TUN) | Tunis / Carthage, Tunisia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,639.04 miles (18,731.18 km) SE | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,510.39 miles (18,524.13 km) ESE | Gisborne Airport (GIS) | Gisborne, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,457.32 miles (18,438.73 km) ESE | Whakatane Airport (WHK) | Whakatane, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,443.85 miles (18,417.05 km) ESE | Hawke's Bay Airport (NPE) | Napier, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,424.17 miles (18,385.37 km) ESE | Rotorua International Airport (ROT) | Rotorua, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,418.88 miles (18,376.86 km) ESE | Tauranga Airport (TRG) | Tauranga, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,408.30 miles (18,359.83 km) ESE | Taupo AirportTe Papa Waka Rererangi o Taupō (TUO) | Taupo, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,393.79 miles (18,336.48 km) ESE | Matamata Airport (MTA) | Matamata, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,383.54 miles (18,319.99 km) E | Thames Aerodrome (TMZ) | Thames, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,380.62 miles (18,315.29 km) E | Coromandel Aerodrome (CMV) | Coromandel, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,376.47 miles (18,308.61 km) E | Great Barrier Aerodrome (GBZ) | Great Barrier Island, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,371.27 miles (18,300.25 km) ESE | Hamilton International Airport (HLZ) | Hamilton, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,368.72 miles (18,296.14 km) SSW | Mangaia Island Airport (MGS) | Mangaia Island, Cook Islands | |
| 14 | 11,368.21 miles (18,295.32 km) ESE | Palmerston North Airport (PMR) | Palmerston North, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,367.03 miles (18,293.41 km) SSW | Rarotonga International Airport (RAR) | Avarua, Cook Islands | |