Nonstop flight route between Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and Alexandria, Egypt:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between King Shaka International (DUR), Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and Alexandria International Airport (ALY), Alexandria, Egypt would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,202 miles (or 6,762 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 King Shaka International and Alexandria International Airport, 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 King Shaka International and Alexandria International Airport. 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 King Shaka International (DUR):

• King Shaka International Airport, also known as La Mercy Airport, and abbreviated KSIA, is the primary airport serving Durban, South Africa.
• 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.
• 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.
• King Shaka International Airport was first conceptualised in the 1970s, with construction beginning in 1973.
• The closest airport to King Shaka International (DUR) is Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB), which is located 43 miles (69 kilometers) W of DUR.
• The cargo terminal is located to the north of the passenger terminal, and is in the approximate centre of the airport precinct.
• Neighbouring communities are Tongaat to the north-west, Verulam to the south-west, and Umdloti to the south-east.
• King Shaka International (DUR) currently has only 1 runway.
• It is unclear what the fate of the existing Durban International Airport will be now that KSIA is complete.
• Mount Moreland, a small community located 2.6 km south of the airport, is an important roosting site for the European Barn Swallow.

Facts about Alexandria International Airport (ALY):

• Due to the length of the runways, the largest aircraft operating into the airport were the Airbus A320-200, Boeing 737-800 and McDonnell Douglas MD-90.
• The furthest airport from Alexandria International Airport (ALY) is Rurutu Airport (RUR), which is located 11,827 miles (19,033 kilometers) away in Rurutu, French Polynesia.
• Alexandria International Airport (ALY) has 2 runways.
• The closest airport to Alexandria International Airport (ALY) is Borg El Arab International Airport (HBE), which is located 24 miles (38 kilometers) SW of ALY.
• The airport is currently closed for renovation and is scheduled for reopening in June 2014 and all traffic was transferred to Borg El Arab Airport.
• Because of Alexandria International Airport's relatively low elevation of -6 feet, planes can take off or land at Alexandria 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 future of the airport was in doubt with the opening of Borg El Arab Airport, however in early 2011 the Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation announced major plans to overhaul the airport and its facilities to ensure its future as one of the two commercial airports for Alexandria and Nile Delta region.
• In addition to being known as "Alexandria International Airport", another name for ALY is "El Nouzha Airport".