Nonstop flight route between Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Kingdom of the Netherlands and Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM), Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Kingdom of the Netherlands and Hermes Quijada International Airport (RGA), Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,970 miles (or 7,999 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 Princess Juliana International Airport and Hermes Quijada 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 Princess Juliana International Airport and Hermes Quijada 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 Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM):

• Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) is Karratha Airport (KTA), which is nearly antipodal to Princess Juliana International Airport (meaning Princess Juliana International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Karratha Airport), and is located 12,252 miles (19,718 kilometers) away in Karratha / Dampier, Western Australia, Australia.
• Because of Princess Juliana International Airport's relatively low elevation of 14 feet, planes can take off or land at Princess Juliana 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.
• However, the oil price increases since 2003 began impacting discretionary air travel worldwide by early 2008, and the prospect of further price increases threatens to reverse the recent expansion of tourist travel by jet which began with the 1980s oil glut.
• Although the airport is as close to the beach as it is, there have only been 2 major accidents.
• Because the approach to Runway 10 is over water, pilots can become disoriented regarding their perceived altitude when operating under visual flight rules.
• The closest airport to Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) is L'Espérance Airport Grand Case Airport (CCE), which is located only 6 miles (9 kilometers) NE of SXM.
• Arriving aircraft approach the island on the last section of the final approach for Runway 10, following a 3° glide slope flying low over the famous Maho Beach.
• The new four-story terminal building offers 27,000 square metres of floor space and is fully air-conditioned.
• To accommodate the growing international and local traffic of private aircraft, PJIA has a Fixed Base Operator building, offering office space and private lounges with dedicated customs.
• Phase II included the construction of a radar facility and a new air traffic control tower, the construction of a new and more modern, 27,000 square metres, terminal, capable of handling 2.5 million passengers per year, and the construction of a Runway End Safety Area of 150 metres, including a 60 metres overrun, on both ends of its runway, to comply with ICAO rules.

Facts about Hermes Quijada International Airport (RGA):

• Because of Hermes Quijada International Airport's relatively low elevation of 66 feet, planes can take off or land at Hermes Quijada 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.
• Hermes Quijada International Airport (RGA) currently has only 1 runway.
• The closest airport to Hermes Quijada International Airport (RGA) is Ushuaia International Airport (USH), which is located 77 miles (123 kilometers) SSW of RGA.
• In addition to being known as "Hermes Quijada International Airport", another name for RGA is "Aeropuerto Internacional de Río Grande - Hermes Quijada".
• The furthest airport from Hermes Quijada International Airport (RGA) is Chita Kadala (HTA), which is nearly antipodal to Hermes Quijada International Airport (meaning Hermes Quijada International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Chita Kadala), and is located 12,308 miles (19,807 kilometers) away in Chita, Russia.