Nonstop flight route between Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, Michigan, United States and Lajes, Azores, Portugal:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO), Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, Michigan, United States and Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,020 miles (or 4,861 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 Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport and Lajes Air Base, 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 Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport and Lajes Air Base. 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 Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO):

• Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO) has 3 runways.
• In May 1955, North Central Airlines began daily service to Detroit, and Chicago.
• In 1955 the Kalamazoo-based Upjohn pharmaceutical company began operating aircraft for its executives from the airport.
• In the 1970s there were discussions between airline and local city officials about building a new airport to serve Battle Creek and Kalamazoo.
• Kalamazoo Airport is used by transient and local private pilots flying for personal reasons, business, or recreation.
• On March 13, 2012, Direct Air suspended all their flights until May 15 because their fuel supplier stopped supplying fuel.
• In 2009 construction on a new terminal began next to the existing facility.
• In 1982 the Core Council decided that the City of Kalamazoo should no longer bear the full cost of operating the airport, and in 1984, the City transferred ownership to the County of Kalamazoo.
• The furthest airport from Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,180 miles (17,993 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
• In 2011 the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport was served by two major airlines who fly passengers to major hubs with worldwide connections.
• Because of Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport's relatively low elevation of 874 feet, planes can take off or land at Kalamazoo/Battle Creek 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.
• The closest airport to Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO) is W. K. Kellogg Airport (BTL), which is located only 16 miles (26 kilometers) ENE of AZO.

Facts about Lajes Air Base (TER):

• Because of Lajes Air Base's relatively low elevation of 180 feet, planes can take off or land at Lajes Air Base 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 "Lajes Air Base", other names for TER include "Base Aérea das Lajes", "Base Aérea Nº 4" and "Aeroporto das Lajes".
• In 1947, the Portuguese Esquadra 41 started to operate from Lajes, equipped with Boeing SB-17, Grumman HU-16 Albatross, Douglas C-54 Skymaster and, later Sikorsky H-19.
• The furthest airport from Lajes Air Base (TER) is Merimbula Airport (MIM), which is nearly antipodal to Lajes Air Base (meaning Lajes Air Base is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Merimbula Airport), and is located 12,229 miles (19,680 kilometers) away in Merimbula, New South Wales, Australia.
• Lajes Field was one of the two stopover and refueling bases for the first transatlantic crossing of non-rigid airships in 1944.
• The civilian terminal also plays an important role in support of passenger and cargo airliners, executive, corporate and private jets flying to the island or beyond as the central location in the Azores group of islands makes it an ideal spot for refuelling or stopover.
• Lajes supported the large airlift during the Gulf War.
• Civilian operators may use Terceira Airport/Lajes Air Base after requesting a landing permit according to the rules inscribed in the AIP for Portugal, issued by the Portuguese Directorate of Civilian Aviation.
• Lajes Air Base (TER) currently has only 1 runway.
• During the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Lajes Field also supported U.S.
• In the late 1950s, USAF air refueling/tanker aircraft were stationed at Lajes to provide inflight refueling for U.S.
• The United States and the United Kingdom transferred control of Lajes to Portugal in 1946.
• The closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.