Nonstop flight route between Chania, Greece and Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis" (CHQ), Chania, Greece and King Shaka International (DUR), Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,524 miles (or 7,281 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 Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis" and King Shaka International, 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 Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis" and King Shaka International. 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 Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis" (CHQ):

• The focus on civil aviation for the west of Crete has not always been on the current location.
• The closest airport to Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis" (CHQ) is Heraklion International Airport “Nikos Kazantzakis” (HER), which is located 60 miles (96 kilometers) ESE of CHQ.
• In addition to being known as "Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis"", other names for CHQ include "Κρατικός Αερολιμένας Χανίων, "Δασκαλογιάννης"" and "Kratikos Aerolimenas Chanion Daskalogiannis".
• Because of Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis"'s relatively low elevation of 490 feet, planes can take off or land at Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis" 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 airport can be easily reached by car via the main road network.
• Passengers can also take a taxi to any destination across the island.
• Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis" (CHQ) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from Chania International Airport, "Daskalogiannis" (CHQ) is Rurutu Airport (RUR), which is located 11,492 miles (18,495 kilometers) away in Rurutu, French Polynesia.

Facts about King Shaka International (DUR):

• The largest aircraft KSIA currently has scheduled services for is the Boeing 777-300ER, with Emirates operating Dubai–Durban, despite the fact that KSIA's runway length and terminal were designed to theoretically handle regular large airliners.
• King Shaka International (DUR) currently has only 1 runway.
• King Shaka International Airport was first conceptualised in the 1970s, with construction beginning in 1973.
• The arrivals area is located on the lower floor, with a baggage reclaim hall containing 5 conveyors that can be allocated between domestic and international use.
• In 2013 Skytrax announced that King Shaka International Airport was the best airport in the world handling under 5 million passengers.
• Because of King Shaka International's relatively low elevation of 295 feet, planes can take off or land at King Shaka International 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 King Shaka International (DUR) is Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB), which is located 43 miles (69 kilometers) W of DUR.
• The furthest airport from King Shaka International (DUR) is Hana Airport (HNM), which is located 11,682 miles (18,801 kilometers) away in Hana, Hawaii, United States.
• The final obstacle was a delay in the approval of the project's Environmental Impact Assessment by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
• As a result, a study into the risks of bird strikes at KSIA was commissioned, with special attention being paid to the Barn Swallows at Mount Moreland.