Nonstop flight route between Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and St Athan, Wales, United Kingdom:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and MoD St Athan (DGX), St Athan, Wales, United Kingdom would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,553 miles (or 5,718 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 Abu Dhabi International Airport and MoD St Athan, 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 Abu Dhabi International Airport and MoD St Athan. 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 Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH):

• Abu Dhabi International Airport has two parallel runways, 13R/31L and 13L/31R.
• Etihad Airways provides buses between Dubai and Abu Dhabi International Airport for their customers, as well as a coach service to Al Ain.
• Because of Abu Dhabi International Airport's relatively low elevation of 88 feet, planes can take off or land at Abu Dhabi 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.
• In addition to being known as "Abu Dhabi International Airport", another name for AUH is "مطار أبوظبي الدولي".
• The rapid growth of Etihad Airways, Emirates, and Qatar Airways has pressed for major expansion in airports of the region.
• The closest airport to Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) is Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), which is located 47 miles (76 kilometers) NE of AUH.
• Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) has 2 runways.
• With the withdrawal of support for regional airline Gulf Air after nearly five decades, Etihad became the new airline to be based at the airport.
• In December 2011, the government of Abu Dhabi signed a letter of intent to build a United States border preclearance facility similar to pre-clearance customs facilities in Canada, Australia, the Bahamas, and Ireland.
• The furthest airport from Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) is Totegegie Airport (GMR), which is located 11,827 miles (19,033 kilometers) away in Mangareva, Gambier Islands, French Polynesia.

Facts about MoD St Athan (DGX):

• RAF St Athan has been used to house a number of army units throughout its life and, in 2003, the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards moved from Aldershot to St Athan - the first time they have been based in Wales since they were formed in 1915.
• The two cadet passengers were cousins and were named as Katie Jo Davies, 15, and Nikitta Walters, 14.
• The MOD later decided that DARA's 'Fast Jets' and 'Engines' businesses would close by April 2007, although the 'Large Aircraft' business would continue and, on 14 April 2005, the Project Red Dragon super-hangar opened and DARA moved its VC10 operations from its existing 'Twin Peaks' hangar into the new facility.
• MoD St Athan (DGX) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from MoD St Athan (DGX) is Dunedin International Airport (DUD), which is located 11,960 miles (19,248 kilometers) away in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.
• In 2009 building work was due to commence on a new defence training academy with its heart at St Athan.
• Because of MoD St Athan's relatively low elevation of 163 feet, planes can take off or land at MoD St Athan 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 closest airport to MoD St Athan (DGX) is Cardiff Airport (CWL), which is located only 4 miles (6 kilometers) E of DGX.
• RAF St Athan was also home for the Royal Air Force Administrative Apprentice Training School.