Nonstop flight route between Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and Mexico City, Mexico:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between King Shaka International (DUR), Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX), Mexico City, Mexico would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,251 miles (or 14,889 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 Benito Juarez 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 Benito Juarez 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 was first conceptualised in the 1970s, with construction beginning in 1973.
• The airport is located in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, approximately 35 km north of Durban.
• King Shaka International (DUR) currently has only 1 runway.
• On 8 December 2009, it was reported that "King Shaka International Airport" was indeed the most popular name for the new airport.
• The Old Durban airport used to have flights to Singapore, Ethiopia, London, Egypt, Persian Gulf and India.
• The closest airport to King Shaka International (DUR) is Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB), which is located 43 miles (69 kilometers) W of DUR.
• 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.
• 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.
• On 27 January 2014 the worlds largest passenger aircraft, an Airbus A380-800 of British Airways landed at KSIA becoming the first A380 to do so.

Facts about Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX):

• Renovations to the AICM continued and on April 11, 1994, a new International Terminal building was ready and operational.
• In addition to being known as "Benito Juarez International Airport", another name for MEX is "Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez".
• A new Master Plan will be presented by President Enrique Peña Nieto in late 2014.
• The international baggage claim area was expanded by 100%, with the installation of 6 new carousels that help passengers get their baggage in less time and prevent crowding.
• The furthest airport from Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 11,294 miles (18,175 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
• On November 24, 1978, the "Mexico" Control Tower began its operations.
• Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) has 2 runways.
• Because of Benito Juarez International Airport's high elevation of 7,316 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at MEX. Combined with a high temperature, this could make MEX a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
• Benito Juarez International Airport handled 3,277,957 passengers last year.
• The closest airport to Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) is Santa Lucía Air Force Base (NLU), which is located 22 miles (36 kilometers) N of MEX.