Wake Island to South TarawaPWAK → NGTA
Wake Island Airfield (PWAK / AWK) in Wake Island, United States Minor Outlying Islands to Bonriki International Airport (NGTA / TRW) in South Tarawa, Kiribati is 1,141 nautical miles — 2,113 kilometres, or 1,313 statute miles — on the great circle, on an initial bearing of 160°. A business jet at Mach 0.85 and FL410 takes about 2h 50m block time in still air.
Published by Overfly · Airport data: OurAirports, · Last updated
Can the aeroplane make it?
Range here is usable range — book range at long-range cruise, less a reserve allowance. It is the figure that decides whether the leg closes, and it is the question most mappers do not answer.
Where the others would stop
For each type that cannot fly the 1,141 nm non-stop, the airport on or near the great circle that splits it into two legs that both clear, for the least extra distance. Types that would need more than one stop are marked.
| TYPE | BEST SINGLE STOP | LEGS | EXTRA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dash 8 Q400 | Majuro Atoll (PKMJ), Marshall Islands | 782 + 359 nm | 0 nm |
Candidates are airports with a runway of 6,000 ft or more within 400 nm of the great circle, neither leg shorter than 15% of the whole, in still air. More in tech stops: where long flights stop and why.
How far from an airport?
The worst point on the great circle is 3h 38m from the nearest suitable airport, Hagåtña (PGUM), at the one-engine diversion speed Overfly uses (430 kt in still air). A twin flying this track needs ETOPS 240 approval or more: ETOPS 240 allows up to 240 minutes from an alternate.
| EQUAL-TIME POINT | BETWEEN | TO EACH |
|---|---|---|
| 8.2°N 170.8°E | Hagåtña (PGUM) and Port Vila (NVVV) | 3h 38m |
| 1.8°N 173.0°E | Port Vila (NVVV) and Nadi (NFFN) | 2h 48m |
A suitable airport here is one OurAirports classes as large with a runway of 8,000 ft or more. An operator’s real alternates also depend on weather, fire cover and approval, and its diversion speed on the type. More in equal-time points and ETOPS, explained.
The two fields
Questions people ask about this route
How far is it from Wake Island (PWAK) to South Tarawa (NGTA)?
1,141 nautical miles. That is 2,113 kilometres or 1,313 statute miles, measured as a great circle between Wake Island Airfield and Bonriki International Airport.
How long is the flight from Wake Island to South Tarawa?
About 2h 50m block time for a business jet cruising at Mach 0.85 at FL410 in still air, including 30 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Wind moves that figure in either direction — eastbound across the North Atlantic or the Pacific it can be an hour or more. This page is deliberately still-air so the figure is stable and citable; to apply the month's average upper winds from NOAA, open the route in the mapper and switch on seasonal winds.
What is the initial bearing from Wake Island (PWAK) to South Tarawa (NGTA)?
160° true at the departure point. A great circle changes heading continuously, so this is the initial bearing, not a constant one.
Which aircraft can fly Wake Island to South Tarawa non-stop?
Of the types Overfly carries, G650ER, G550, Global 7500, Falcon 8X, Falcon 7X, Challenger 350, A350-900, B777-300ER, A320neo, A320, B737 MAX 8, B737-800, An-124, Concorde, King Air 200, ATR 72 clear it on usable range — that is book range less a reserve allowance. Dash 8 Q400 would need a tech stop.
For reference and planning interest. Not for operational flight planning. Distances are great circle on a sphere from WGS-84 coordinates; block times assume still air. © 2026 Overfly.Flights