Nonstop flight route between Charlottesville, Virginia, United States and Lajes, Azores, Portugal:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport (CHO), Charlottesville, Virginia, United States and Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,742 miles (or 4,413 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 Charlottesville–Albemarle 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 Charlottesville–Albemarle 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 Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport (CHO):

• Because of Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport's relatively low elevation of 639 feet, planes can take off or land at Charlottesville–Albemarle 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.
• Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport (CHO) currently has only 1 runway.
• The closest airport to Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport (CHO) is Orange County Airport (OMH), which is located 23 miles (38 kilometers) ENE of CHO.
• The airport has a 60,000 sq ft terminal with on-site rental cars, ground transportation, and food service and gifts from "The Market" Gourmet Deli & Gift Shop.General aviation facilities include an executive terminal offering a full-service by the fixed base operator, Landmark Aviation, flight schools, emergency medical transportation provided by the UVA Hospital's Pegasus service and aircraft charter firms.
• The furthest airport from Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport (CHO) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,627 miles (18,711 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
• On August 20, 2013, Las Vegas based Allegiant Air announced that they would begin non-stop jet service from Charlottesville to Orlando–Sanford International Airport beginning on November 21, 2013.

Facts about Lajes Air Base (TER):

• Today, Lajes continues to support transiting aircraft.
• The closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.
• Lajes Air Base (TER) currently has only 1 runway.
• The resident Portuguese 711 Squadron "Albatrozes" was deactivated on 30 November 2006.
• 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".
• 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.
• 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.
• The base also supports other NATO and non-NATO armed forces assets crossing the Atlantic for transport, VIP, exercise, relief or humanitarian duties.
• The United States and the United Kingdom transferred control of Lajes to Portugal in 1946.
• In the summer of 1984, Lajes undertook a new mission known as "SILK PURSE." Boeing EC-135s began operating out of Lajes Field as an airborne command post for the U.S.
• During the Portuguese Colonial War, from 1961 to 1975, the Air Force Hospital at Lajes operated as the main centre for treatment and rehabilitation of mutilated and heavy burned soldiers of the three services of the Portuguese Armed Forces.