Range Map

Visualize how far each aircraft type can fly from any airport on an interactive map.

Calculator

Aircraft Type

Origin (or click map)

Range:

Range (mi):

Range (nm):

Origin:

Click anywhere on the map to set a custom origin. Range values are maximum range under optimal conditions. Actual range varies with payload, weather, and route.

How to Use

1
Select a Departure Airport
Enter an IATA airport code or city name to set your origin point. The map will center on that location and prepare to draw range circles based on the selected aircraft.
2
Choose an Aircraft Type
Select the aircraft model from the dropdown, such as the Boeing 787-9 or Airbus A350-900. The tool will use the manufacturer's published maximum range figure at typical operating weights.
3
Interpret the Range Circle
A circle on the map shows the theoretical maximum nonstop range. Airports inside the circle are potentially reachable; those outside require a technical stop. Note that actual route viability also depends on winds, payload, and regulatory overflight permissions.

About

Aircraft range is one of the most commercially significant specifications in the aviation industry, determining which city pairs can be served nonstop and what aircraft types are deployed on which routes. Manufacturers express range as a great-circle distance in nautical miles at a defined maximum takeoff weight and standard atmospheric conditions. The A350-900 achieves approximately 8,100 nautical miles, enabling routes such as Singapore–New York that were impossible with previous generation widebodies. The 787-9 offers around 7,635 nautical miles, while the older 777-300ER reaches roughly 7,370 nautical miles.

Great-circle distance — the shortest path between two points on a sphere — differs from actual flown routing, which follows airways, avoids restricted airspace, and adjusts for winds. On westbound Pacific routes, aircraft frequently fly curved tracks far north over Alaska or Japan to avoid punishing headwinds, adding hundreds of miles to the total distance. Flight planning systems compute optimal routing by balancing track miles, wind impact, fuel cost, and overflight fees simultaneously. This means two flights between the same city pair can follow substantially different paths depending on the day's weather.

Range maps are a powerful visualization tool for understanding global connectivity and the strategic value of different aircraft types. An airline's decision to order long-range aircraft like the A350-900ULR (capable of 9,700 nautical miles) directly expands the geographic footprint of its network by enabling new nonstop routes that bypass traditional hub connections. For passengers, range maps help evaluate whether a favorite departure airport could someday receive a nonstop service to a desired destination, based on the distance and available aircraft technology.

FAQ

How is aircraft range defined and what factors affect it?

Aircraft range is typically expressed as the maximum great-circle distance the aircraft can fly with a standard payload under ISA (International Standard Atmosphere) conditions. Manufacturers publish several range figures: maximum range (ferry range with minimal payload), design range (full passenger load at maximum takeoff weight), and harmonic range (the load-range tradeoff sweet spot). In practice, actual range is reduced by headwinds, which can be 50–100 knots on eastbound Pacific routes, payload beyond the design weight, required alternate fuel for diversions, and air traffic control routing that adds track miles.

What is the difference between ETOPS range and standard range?

ETOPS (Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards) governs how far a twin-engine aircraft may fly from the nearest diversion airport while over remote oceanic or polar terrain. An ETOPS-180 certification allows the aircraft to operate up to 180 minutes from a diversion airport at single-engine cruise speed. This certification is separate from the aircraft's physical range capability and enables transoceanic routes that would otherwise require a four-engine aircraft. Most modern twin-engine widebodies like the 787 and A350 are certified for ETOPS-180 or ETOPS-330, opening nearly all global routes.

Why does range vary between different variants of the same aircraft family?

Within a family, variants differ in wing area, fuel tank capacity, engine thrust rating, and maximum takeoff weight. The Boeing 777X family illustrates this: the 777-9 carries more passengers but has similar range to the 777-8, which sacrifices capacity for extended reach. Winglet upgrades improve aerodynamic efficiency and extend range modestly. Engine choices from different manufacturers also affect fuel burn rates and therefore range. Airlines sometimes select lower-range variants because their route network does not require maximum reach, accepting lower per-seat fuel costs in exchange.

How accurate are theoretical range figures for planning real routes?

Manufacturer range figures represent idealized conditions and overstate practical range by 5–15% depending on route characteristics. Prevailing winds on westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes routinely reduce effective range, which is why airlines schedule seasonal routing changes to take advantage of jet stream positioning. Payload penalties apply when airlines need to carry extra fuel for alternates on routes with limited diversion options. Airlines use sophisticated flight planning software that integrates real-time wind data, notams, and aircraft weight to compute actual available range for each individual flight.

Can I use a range map to verify if a nonstop route is feasible?

Range maps provide a useful first-order feasibility check, showing whether the great-circle distance falls within the aircraft's theoretical capability. However, feasibility also depends on wind patterns (which vary seasonally), airport infrastructure at the destination (runway length, fuel availability), regulatory bilateral air service agreements between countries, overflight permissions for intermediate airspace, and demand economics. Many technically possible routes are not operated commercially because the economics do not support them, or because bilateral agreements restrict the carrier from serving the city pair.