The world's most northerly and southerly airports that would take 30 hours to fly between

Around 8,700 miles apart from each other these two airports are the most northerly and southernly in the world and would take 30 hours to fly between.

By Astha Saxena, News Reporter

Longyearbyen airport.

Svalbard Airport, Longyear (LYR) is the northernmost airport in the world. (Image: Getty)

The world’s most northerly and southerly airports are over 8,700 miles apart and would take over 30 hours to fly between.

Svalbard Airport, Longyear (LYR) is the northernmost airport in the world with scheduled public flights.

Located in Longyearbyen on the Svalbard archipelago in Norway, it is just over 1,300 kilometres (800 miles) from the North Pole.

The airport serves as the main gateway for travellers heading to this remote Arctic region, and most flights connect through Oslo or Tromsø.

Despite its remote location, Svalbard Airport plays a crucial role in connecting the local community and supporting scientific expeditions in the Arctic.

Malvinas argentinas ushuaia international airport

Malvinas Argentinas International Airport (USH) is the southernmost international airport in the wor (Image: Getty)

Not to be outdone in Arctic operations, Russia has occasionally landed airliners near the North Pole. Antonov An-74 aircraft, operated by Russian airline Utair, utilises a temporary runway on drifting ice for supply missions to Ice Camp Barneo, a seasonal research base.

On the other hand, Ushuaia – Malvinas Argentinas International Airport (USH) is the southernmost international airport in the world, located in Ushuaia, Argentina, at the southern tip of South America.

It serves as a key gateway for travellers heading to Antarctica and Tierra del Fuego.


Its proximity to Antarctica makes it a crucial hub for scientific missions and tourists embarking on Antarctic expeditions.

A direct flight between Svalbard Airport (LYR) in Longyearbyen, Norway, and Ushuaia – Malvinas Argentinas International Airport (USH) in Argentina does not exist.

The approximate distance between the two locations is over 14,000 kilometres (8,700 miles), requiring multiple connecting flights through hubs like Oslo, Buenos Aires, or other major cities.

With layovers and multiple segments, the journey would take between 24 to 30 hours or more, depending on the connections and waiting times at various airports.

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