Nonstop flight route between Wellington, New Zealand and Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Wellington International Airport (WLG), Wellington, New Zealand and Fort McMurray International Airport (YMM), Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,012 miles (or 12,894 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 Wellington International Airport and Fort McMurray 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 Wellington International Airport and Fort McMurray International 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 Wellington International Airport (WLG):

• Wellington has a reputation for sometimes rough and turbulent landings, even in larger aircraft, due to the channelling effect of Cook Strait creating strong and gusty winds, especially in pre frontal north westerly conditions.
• Wellington International Airport (WLG) currently has only 1 runway.
• Wellington is the third busiest airport in New Zealand handling a total of 5,373,622 passengers in the year ending 31 March 2013.
• The airport, in addition to linking many New Zealand destinations with national and regional carriers, also has links to major cities in eastern Australia.
• The length of the runway has limited the size of aircraft that can use the airport on a commercial basis, and overseas destinations are limited to the east coast of Australia and the South Pacific.
• Because of Wellington International Airport's relatively low elevation of 42 feet, planes can take off or land at Wellington 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 international terminal – partially built by the now-defunct Ansett New Zealand in 1986 – has been upgraded in various stages since 2005.
• The furthest airport from Wellington International Airport (WLG) is Salamanca-Matacán Airport (SLM), which is nearly antipodal to Wellington International Airport (meaning Wellington International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Salamanca-Matacán Airport), and is located 12,406 miles (19,966 kilometers) away in Salamanca, Spain.
• The closest airport to Wellington International Airport (WLG) is Kapiti Coast Airport (PPQ), which is located 31 miles (49 kilometers) NNE of WLG.
• As recently as 1992, several alternate sites for Wellington Airport were considered – Te Horo, Paraparaumu, Mana Island, Ohariu Valley, Horokiwi, Wairarapa and Pencarrow – but a decision was made to upgrade the existing site at Rongotai.
• The South Pier contains six gates that serve regional aircraft and Air New Zealand Link turboprop aircraft.

Facts about Fort McMurray International Airport (YMM):

• Fort McMurray International Airport handled 1,195,378 passengers last year.
• Fort McMurray International Airport (YMM) currently has only 1 runway.
• Bus service operates between the airport and downtown Fort McMurray via the Route 11 Airport Shuttle bus.
• The furthest airport from Fort McMurray International Airport (YMM) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 9,996 miles (16,087 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
• The closest airport to Fort McMurray International Airport (YMM) is Buffalo Narrows Airport (YVT), which is located 121 miles (195 kilometers) ESE of YMM.
• As the current terminal building can only accommodate 250,000, the ever exceeding growth in passenger demand has pushed for the construction of a new building.