Nonstop flight route between Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between King Shaka International (DUR), Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and Cyril E. King Airport (STT), Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,190 miles (or 11,571 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 Cyril E. King 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 Cyril E. King 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):

• 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.
• King Shaka International (DUR) currently has only 1 runway.
• The closest airport to King Shaka International (DUR) is Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB), which is located 43 miles (69 kilometers) W of DUR.
• The airport forms part of the Dube Tradeport, which will additionally consist of a trade zone linked to the airport's cargo terminal, facilities to support the airport such as nearby offices and transit accommodation for tourists, an integrated agricultural export zone, and an IT platform.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• The project was then hit by a tender war between the Illembe consortium and the Indiza consortium.

Facts about Cyril E. King Airport (STT):

• The closest airport to Cyril E. King Airport (STT) is Charlotte Amalie Harbor Seaplane Base (SPB), which is located only 2 miles (3 kilometers) E of STT.
• Cyril E. King Airport (STT) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from Cyril E. King Airport (STT) is Barrow Island Airport (BWB), which is nearly antipodal to Cyril E. King Airport (meaning Cyril E. King Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Barrow Island Airport), and is located 12,260 miles (19,731 kilometers) away in Barrow Island, Western Australia, Australia.
• During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces Sixth Air Force 23rd Fighter Squadron deployed P-40 Warhawk fighters to the airport from March 1942 – May 1943.
• Because of Cyril E. King Airport's relatively low elevation of 23 feet, planes can take off or land at Cyril E. King 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.