Nonstop flight route between Maiquetía (near Caracas), Venezuela and Lajes, Azores, Portugal:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" International Airport (CCS), Maiquetía (near Caracas), Venezuela and Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,131 miles (or 5,039 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 Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" 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 Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" 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 Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" International Airport (CCS):

• Simón Bolívar International Airport or Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" International Airport is an international airport located in Maiquetía, about 21 kilometres from downtown Caracas, the capital of Venezuela.
• In addition to being known as "Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" International Airport", another name for CCS is "Aeropuerto Internacional de Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar"".
• The furthest airport from Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" International Airport (CCS) is Blimbingsari Airport (BWX), which is nearly antipodal to Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" International Airport (meaning Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Blimbingsari Airport), and is located 12,254 miles (19,721 kilometers) away in Banyuwangi Regency, East Java, Java Island, Indonesia.
• The closest airport to Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" International Airport (CCS) is El Libertador (MYC), which is located 49 miles (78 kilometers) SW of CCS.
• Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" International Airport (CCS) has 2 runways.
• In the 1950s, under the regime of Marcos Pérez Jiménez, road transport between the airport and the capital was improved by the inauguration of the Caracas-La Guaira highway.
• As part of an expansion plan, new international gates are currently in construction, and a section of the parking area has been cleared to build an airport hotel.
• Because of Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" International Airport's relatively low elevation of 235 feet, planes can take off or land at Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" 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.

Facts about Lajes Air Base (TER):

• Lajes Field was one of the two stopover and refueling bases for the first transatlantic crossing of non-rigid airships in 1944.
• Lajes Air Base (TER) currently has only 1 runway.
• During World War II, the designation of the airfield was changed to Air Base No.4 and the Portuguese government expanded the runway, sending troops and equipment to Terceira, including Gloster Gladiator fighters.
• In 1980, an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale struck Terceira Island.
• 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.
• In 1961, the Portuguese Air Force EICAP was transferred to Lajes, operating Douglas C-47, Douglas C-54 and later CASA C-212 Aviocar.
• 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".
• The closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.
• In the late 1950s, USAF air refueling/tanker aircraft were stationed at Lajes to provide inflight refueling for U.S.
• 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.