Nonstop flight route between Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and Kassel, Hesse, Germany:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between King Shaka International (DUR), Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and Kassel Calden Airport (KSF), Kassel, Hesse, Germany would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,753 miles (or 9,258 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 Kassel Calden 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 Kassel Calden 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 (DUR) currently has only 1 runway.
• Although the larger airport was built to grow the area's international services, it is also a key airport for domestic services throughout South Africa, serving the "Golden Triangle" between Cape Town International Airport, OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, and KSIA itself with 7 airlines.
• The terminal does not have a public viewing deck, which has attracted public criticism.
• The closest airport to King Shaka International (DUR) is Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB), which is located 43 miles (69 kilometers) W of DUR.
• In response to the study, ACSA contracted De-Tect Inc.
• 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.
• 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 project was revived in the late 1990s when the limitations of Durban International Airport became apparent.
• 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.

Facts about Kassel Calden Airport (KSF):

• Kassel Calden Airport (KSF) has 3 runways.
• Built on farmland, 908 ft ASL lying NNE of the Hoher Dörnberg, the airport was opened on 11 July 1970.
• The old airport used to have a single asphalt runway, 04/22, which is 1,500 by 30 m.
• The closest airport to Kassel Calden Airport (KSF) is Fritzlar Air Base (FRZ), which is located 22 miles (35 kilometers) SSW of KSF.
• Kassel-Calden features one modern small passenger terminal building with basic facilities such as car rental desks and some shops.
• Because of Kassel Calden Airport's relatively low elevation of 820 feet, planes can take off or land at Kassel Calden 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 furthest airport from Kassel Calden Airport (KSF) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is located 11,845 miles (19,063 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
• The nearest other minor international airport is Paderborn Lippstadt Airport approx.
• In addition to being known as "Kassel Calden Airport", another name for KSF is "Flughafen Kassel-Calden".
• A completely new regional airport has been built next to the old airport to accommodate commercial chartered and scheduled carriers as well as the business and general aviation from the old airport.