Nonstop flight route between Vieques, Puerto Rico, United States and Buka Island, Papua New Guinea:
Departure Airport:
(18°8'4"N by 65°29'36"W)
Arrival Airport:
(5°25'19"S by 154°40'21"E)
Distance from VQS to BUA:
9,589.95 miles (15,433.49 km)
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- About this route
- VQS Airport Information
- BUA Airport Information
- Facts about VQS
- Facts about BUA
- Map of Nearest Airports to VQS
- List of Nearest Airports to VQS
- Map of Furthest Airports from VQS
- List of Furthest Airports from VQS
- Map of Nearest Airports to BUA
- List of Nearest Airports to BUA
- Map of Furthest Airports from BUA
- List of Furthest Airports from BUA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport (VQS), Vieques, Puerto Rico, United States and Buka Island Airport (BUA), Buka Island, Papua New Guinea would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,590 miles (or 15,433 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 Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport and Buka 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 Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport and Buka Island Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | VQS / TJVQ |
| Airport Name: | Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport |
| Location: | Vieques, Puerto Rico, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 18°8'4"N by 65°29'36"W |
| Area Served: | Isla De Vieques, Puerto Rico |
| Operator/Owner: | Puerto Rico Ports Authority |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 49 feet (15 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from VQS |
| More Information: | VQS Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | BUA / AYBK |
| Airport Name: | Buka Island Airport |
| Location: | Buka Island, Papua New Guinea |
| GPS Coordinates: | 5°25'19"S by 154°40'21"E |
| Area Served: | Buka Island, Papua New Guinea |
| Operator/Owner: | Government |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 11 feet (3 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from BUA |
| More Information: | BUA Maps & Info |
Facts about Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport (VQS):
- The furthest airport from Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport (VQS) is Barrow Island Airport (BWB), which is nearly antipodal to Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport (meaning Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Barrow Island Airport), and is located 12,239 miles (19,697 kilometers) away in Barrow Island, Western Australia, Australia.
- Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport handled 165,043 passengers last year.
- The closest airport to Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport (VQS) is Diego Jiménez Torres Airport (FAJ), which is located only 16 miles (26 kilometers) NW of VQS.
- When anti-military demonstrators started flocking into Vieques, both by air and sea, in 1999, Vieques Airport saw a considerable increase to its normal yearly average of passengers.
- Because of Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport's relatively low elevation of 49 feet, planes can take off or land at Antonio Rivera Rodríguez 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.
- Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport (VQS) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about Buka Island Airport (BUA):
- There is one navigational aid, the Buka NDB situated on nearby Sohano Island.
- The furthest airport from Buka Island Airport (BUA) is São Filipe Airport (SFL), which is located 11,781 miles (18,959 kilometers) away in Fogo, Cape Verde.
- Because of Buka Island Airport's relatively low elevation of 11 feet, planes can take off or land at Buka 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.
- Today the airport is the primary air portal into Bougainville, and even 60 years after the war, wreckage from the military use of the airfield by the Japanese and Americans is easily found in the area.
- The closest airport to Buka Island Airport (BUA) is Nissan Island Airport (IIS), which is located 71 miles (114 kilometers) NNW of BUA.
- Buka Island Airport (BUA) currently has only 1 runway.
- On 13 May 1943 Allied reconnaissance observed 36 fighters and 6 bombers at the airstrip.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 16.29 miles (26.22 km) NW | Diego Jiménez Torres Airport (FAJ) | Fajardo, Puerto Rico, United States |     |
| 2 | 17.50 miles (28.17 km) NE | Benjamín Rivera Noriega Airport (CPX) | Isla de Culebra, Puerto Rico | |
| 3 | 20.17 miles (32.47 km) W | Humacao Airport (HUC) | Humacao, Puerto Rico, United States | |
| 4 | 36.90 miles (59.38 km) ENE | Cyril E. King Airport (STT) | Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands | |
| 5 | 38.91 miles (62.63 km) ENE | Charlotte Amalie Harbor Seaplane Base (SPB) | Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands | |
| 6 | 39.43 miles (63.45 km) WNW | Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 7 | 45.48 miles (73.19 km) WNW | Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport (SIG) | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 8 | 54.34 miles (87.46 km) ESE | Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport (STX) | Christiansted, Saint Croix, United States Virgin Islands | |
| 9 | 57.14 miles (91.96 km) WNW | Dorado Airport (DDP) | Dorado, Puerto Rico | |
| 10 | 58.34 miles (93.90 km) ESE | Christiansted Harbor Seaplane Base (SSB) | Christiansted, Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands | |
| 11 | 65.95 miles (106.14 km) ENE | Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS) | Beef Island (near Tortola), British Virgin Islands | |
| 12 | 70.79 miles (113.92 km) W | Mercedita Airport (PSE) | Ponce, Puerto Rico | |
| 13 | 73.13 miles (117.69 km) ENE | Virgin Gorda Airport (VIJ) | Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands | |
| 14 | 80.56 miles (129.65 km) WNW | Antonio (Nery) Juarbe Pol Airport (ARE) | Arecibo, Puerto Rico | |
| 15 | 108.93 miles (175.31 km) W | Eugenio María de Hostos Airport (MAZ) | Mayagüez, Puerto Rico | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,239.24 miles (19,697.09 km) SSW | Barrow Island Airport (BWB) | Barrow Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 12,205.43 miles (19,642.69 km) SW | Karratha Airport (KTA) | Karratha / Dampier, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 12,152.15 miles (19,556.94 km) S | RAAF Learmonth (LEA) | Exmouth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 12,126.60 miles (19,515.82 km) WSW | Port Hedland International Airport (PHE) | Port Hedland, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 12,107.36 miles (19,484.86 km) SW | Coolawanyah Station Airport (COY) | Coolawanyah Station, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 12,082.41 miles (19,444.70 km) SW | Solomon Airport (SLJ) | Karijini National Park, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 12,050.96 miles (19,394.09 km) SW | Tom Price Airport (TPR) | Tom Price, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 12,030.69 miles (19,361.48 km) SSW | Paraburdoo Airport (PBO) | Paraburdoo, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 12,002.48 miles (19,316.07 km) SW | Coondewanna Airport (CJF) | Coondewanna, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 12,001.66 miles (19,314.75 km) SW | Barimunya Airport (BYP) | Barimunya, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,967.64 miles (19,260.00 km) S | Carnarvon Airport (CVQ) | Carnarvon, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,936.62 miles (19,210.08 km) SW | Newman Airport (ZNE) | Newman, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,929.41 miles (19,198.48 km) W | Broome International Airport (BME) | Broome, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,897.44 miles (19,147.03 km) S | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,832.18 miles (19,041.99 km) W | Derby Airport (DRB) | Derby, Western Australia, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 70.73 miles (113.82 km) NNW | Nissan Island Airport (IIS) | Nissan Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 2 | 94.46 miles (152.01 km) SE | Kieta/Aropa Airport (KIE) | Kieta, Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 3 | 136.91 miles (220.34 km) SE | Balalae Airport (BAS) | Ballalae, Solomon Islands | |
| 4 | 148.20 miles (238.51 km) SE | Choiseul Bay Airport (CHY) | Choiseul Bay, Taro Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 5 | 150.79 miles (242.66 km) SSE | Mono Airport (MNY) | Stirling Island, Treasury Islands, Solomon Islands | |
| 6 | 174.66 miles (281.09 km) WNW | Rabaul Airport (RAB) | Rabaul, Papua New Guinea | |
| 7 | 195.74 miles (315.01 km) NW | Namatanai Airport (ATN) | Namatanai, Papua New Guinea | |
| 8 | 198.38 miles (319.26 km) W | Manguna Airport (MFO) | Manguna, Papua New Guinea | |
| 9 | 216.52 miles (348.46 km) NW | Lihir Island Regional Airport (LNV) | Londolovit, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 10 | 218.28 miles (351.28 km) W | Jacquinot Bay Airport (JAQ) | Jacquinot Bay, Papua New Guinea | |
| 11 | 238.34 miles (383.57 km) SE | Nusatupe Airport (GZO) | Gizo / Nusatupe, Western Province, Solomon Islands | |
| 12 | 239.73 miles (385.81 km) ESE | Kaghau Airport (KGE) | Kagau Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 13 | 268.10 miles (431.47 km) SE | Munda Airport (MUA) | Munda, New Georgia Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 14 | 288.56 miles (464.39 km) SSW | Guasopa Airport (GAZ) | Guasopa, Papua New Guinea | |
| 15 | 293.54 miles (472.41 km) W | Hoskins Airport (HKN) | Hoskins, Papua New Guinea | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,780.59 miles (18,958.98 km) N | São Filipe Airport (SFL) | Fogo, Cape Verde | |
| 2 | 11,768.57 miles (18,939.63 km) N | Praia International Airport (RAI) | Praia, Cape Verde | |
| 3 | 11,768.55 miles (18,939.59 km) N | Mosteiros Airport (MTI) | Mosteiros, Cape Verde | |
| 4 | 11,749.15 miles (18,908.38 km) NNW | Maio Airport (MMO) | Maio, Cape Verde | |
| 5 | 11,678.23 miles (18,794.25 km) NNW | Aristides Pereira International Airport (BVC) | Boa Vista, Cape Verde | |
| 6 | 11,678.02 miles (18,793.91 km) NW | Cap Skirring Airport (CSK) | Cap Skirring, Senegal | |
| 7 | 11,671.84 miles (18,783.96 km) WNW | Bubaque Airport (BQE) | Bubaque, Guinea-Bissau | |
| 8 | 11,662.10 miles (18,768.29 km) N | Preguiça Airport (SNE) | São Nicolau, Cape Verde | |
| 9 | 11,648.17 miles (18,745.87 km) N | Cesária Évora International Airport (VXE) | São Vicente, Cape Verde | |
| 10 | 11,647.20 miles (18,744.31 km) NW | Ziguinchor Airport (ZIG) | Ziguinchor, Senegal | |
| 11 | 11,639.22 miles (18,731.47 km) NW | Osvaldo Vieira International Airport (OXB) | Bissau, Guinea-Bissau | |
| 12 | 11,638.24 miles (18,729.88 km) NNW | Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID) | Sal Island, Cape Verde | |
| 13 | 11,631.66 miles (18,719.29 km) NW | Banjul International Airport (BJL) | Banjul, Gambia | |
| 14 | 11,629.96 miles (18,716.56 km) NE | Governador Carlos Wilson Airport (FEN) | Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil | |
| 15 | 11,622.66 miles (18,704.82 km) N | Agostinho Neto Airport (NTO) | Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, Cape Verde | |