Nonstop flight route between Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada and Hambantota, Sri Lanka:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE), Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI), Hambantota, Sri Lanka would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,371 miles (or 13,472 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 Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport and Mattala Rajapaksa 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 Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport and Mattala Rajapaksa 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 Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE):

• The closest airport to Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE) is North Battleford Airport (YQW), which is located 77 miles (124 kilometers) WNW of YXE.
• Air Canada in 1950 began operating the Canadair North Star at the airport, followed by the Vickers Viscount in 1955.
• In 2005 additional renovations were completed to the check-in area and baggage screening as well as the addition of a fifth bridge.
• In addition to being known as "Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport", another name for YXE is "Saskatoon International Airport".
• Due to larger aircraft and more frequent flights, in 1972 plans were drafted for a new terminal building.
• The airport contains a small historical display on the main floor.
• The furthest airport from Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 10,134 miles (16,309 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
• Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport handled 1,246,405 passengers last year.
• In 1993 the name of the airport was changed to recognize Canada's 13th Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.
• Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE) has 2 runways.

Facts about Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI):

• Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) currently has only 1 runway.
• Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport is an international airport serving the city of Hambantota in southeast Sri Lanka.
• Because of Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport's relatively low elevation of 157 feet, planes can take off or land at Mattala Rajapaksa 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.
• Construction of phase one began on 27 November 2009 at Mattala.
• The numbers given to the airport's sole runway is 05 and 23.
• The second stage of the HIA project expansion works at the airport is to be completed by 2015.
• The furthest airport from Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) is Seymour Airport (GPS), which is located 11,719 miles (18,860 kilometers) away in Baltra Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.
• In addition to being known as "Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport", another name for HRI is "මත්තල රාජපක්ෂ ජාත්‍යන්තර ගුවන්තොටුපළமத்தல ராஜபக்ஷ பன்னாட்டு விமான நிலையம்".
• The airport was declared open by the President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, on 18 March 2013 and commenced operations with the landing of a SriLankan Airlines special Airbus A340 flight named 'City of Magam Ruhunupura' with the President on board.
• The closest airport to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) is Weerawila Airport (WRZ), which is located only 8 miles (13 kilometers) ESE of HRI.