Nonstop flight route between Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and Kokhanok, Alaska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between King Shaka International (DUR), Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and Kokhanok Airport (KNK), Kokhanok, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 10,358 miles (or 16,670 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 Kokhanok 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 Kokhanok 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):

• The project was revived in the late 1990s when the limitations of Durban International Airport became apparent.
• 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.
• The closest airport to King Shaka International (DUR) is Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB), which is located 43 miles (69 kilometers) W of DUR.
• Despite wide expectations that the airport would be named "King Shaka International Airport", it emerged in October 2009 that the airport needed to undergo a formal naming process.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Construction of the airport commenced on 24 August 2007, immediately after the approval of the EIA.
• The terminal does not have a public viewing deck, which has attracted public criticism.

Facts about Kokhanok Airport (KNK):

• Because of Kokhanok Airport's relatively low elevation of 115 feet, planes can take off or land at Kokhanok 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 Kokhanok Airport (KNK) is Big Mountain Air Force Station (BMX), which is located only 17 miles (27 kilometers) WSW of KNK.
• In addition to being known as "Kokhanok Airport", another name for KNK is "9K2".
• The furthest airport from Kokhanok Airport (KNK) is Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), which is located 10,678 miles (17,185 kilometers) away in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
• Kokhanok Airport (KNK) currently has only 1 runway.