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):

• After the war the airport was transferred to the Canadian Department of Transport for civilian use.
• As a result of the RCAF's post-war expansion, the RCAF re-acquired the military portion of the property and RCAF Station Saskatoon re-opened as an air training facility in October 1950.
• 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 (YXE) has 2 runways.
• In addition to being known as "Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport", another name for YXE is "Saskatoon International Airport".
• In 2010 construction started on apron improvements, remote stands and preparatory work to start on reconstruction of the terminal building in 2011.
• On January 1, 1971, the City of Saskatoon annexed the airport and surrounding lands totalling 2,111.7 acres.
• 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.
• Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport handled 1,246,405 passengers last year.

Facts about Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI):

• The second stage of the HIA project expansion works at the airport is to be completed by 2015.
• 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.
• The air traffic control tower of height 41m has been constructed at the highest elevation of the aerodrome.
• Construction of phase one began on 27 November 2009 at Mattala.
• On 24 January 2013, Sri Lanka Minister of Civil Aviation Piyankara Jayaratne said in parliament that the airport would be declared open on 18 March 2013.
• The closest airport to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) is Weerawila Airport (WRZ), which is located only 8 miles (13 kilometers) ESE of HRI.
• In addition to being known as "Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport", another name for HRI is "මත්තල රාජපක්ෂ ජාත්‍යන්තර ගුවන්තොටුපළமத்தல ராஜபக்ஷ பன்னாட்டு விமான நிலையம்".
• Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) currently has only 1 runway.
• It handled nearly 6000 passengers in the first two months after opening.
• 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.
• Phase one began on 27 November 2009 at Mattala.