Nonstop flight route between Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and Traverse City, Michigan, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between King Shaka International (DUR), Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and Cherry Capital Airport (TVC), Traverse City, Michigan, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,892 miles (or 14,311 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 Cherry Capital 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 Cherry Capital 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 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.
• 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 check-in concourse, located on the upper floor, contains 72 check-in counters and 18 self-service kiosks, as well as ticket offices for the various airlines operating out of the airport.
• The final obstacle was a delay in the approval of the project's Environmental Impact Assessment by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
• 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.

Facts about Cherry Capital Airport (TVC):

• The airport had 378,241 total passengers in 2013, an increase from 362,059 total passengers in 2012 and 343,679 passengers in 2010.
• Cherry Capital Airport was the recipient of the 2003–2004, 2004–2005, and 2005–2006 Balchen/Post Awards for outstanding achievement in snow and ice control in the small commercial service airport category.
• The furthest airport from Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,109 miles (17,878 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
• Because of Cherry Capital Airport's relatively low elevation of 624 feet, planes can take off or land at Cherry Capital 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 Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) is Antrim County Airport (ACB), which is located 25 miles (41 kilometers) NE of TVC.
• Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) has 2 runways.
• In February 2009, Forbes magazine ranked Cherry Capital Airport second in their list of the top ten "rip-off" airports in the United States, citing an average cost per mile to travelers departing TVC of 41 cents.
• Cherry Capital Airport had 190,286 passenger boardings in calendar year 2013, an increase from 182,616 enplanements in 2012 and 167,488 in 2010.