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

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport (GDL), Guadalajara, Mexico and King Shaka International (DUR), Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,535 miles (or 15,344 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 Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport and King Shaka International, 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 Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport and King Shaka International. 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 Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport (GDL):

• The airport is being renovated and expanded under a project that will allow it to double its operating capacity by 2007.
• In addition to being known as "Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport", another name for GDL is "Aeropuerto Internacional Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla".
• Because of Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport's high elevation of 5,016 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at GDL. Combined with a high temperature, this could make GDL a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
• The closest airport to Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport (GDL) is Licenciado Miguel de la Madrid Airport (CLQ), which is located 88 miles (141 kilometers) SSW of GDL.
• The furthest airport from Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport (GDL) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 11,571 miles (18,621 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
• Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport (GDL) has 2 runways.

Facts about King Shaka International (DUR):

• Construction of the airport commenced on 24 August 2007, immediately after the approval of the EIA.
• 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.
• The closest airport to King Shaka International (DUR) is Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB), which is located 43 miles (69 kilometers) W of DUR.
• Mount Moreland, a small community located 2.6 km south of the airport, is an important roosting site for the European Barn Swallow.
• 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.
• King Shaka International (DUR) currently has only 1 runway.
• The cargo terminal is located to the north of the passenger terminal, and is in the approximate centre of the airport precinct.
• Neighbouring communities are Tongaat to the north-west, Verulam to the south-west, and Umdloti to the south-east.