Nonstop flight route between Gondar, Ethiopia and Lajes, Azores, Portugal:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Gondar Atse Tewodros Airport (GDQ), Gondar, Ethiopia and Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,312 miles (or 6,940 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 Gondar Atse Tewodros Airport and Lajes Air Base, 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 Gondar Atse Tewodros Airport and Lajes Air Base. 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 Gondar Atse Tewodros Airport (GDQ):

• The closest airport to Gondar Atse Tewodros Airport (GDQ) is Debre Tabor Airport (DBT), which is located 59 miles (94 kilometers) SE of GDQ.
• In addition to being known as "Gondar Atse Tewodros Airport", another name for GDQ is "የጎንደር ዓፄ ቴዎድሮስ የአየር ማረፊያ".
• Gondar Atse Tewodros Airport (GDQ) currently has only 1 runway.
• Because of Gondar Atse Tewodros Airport's high elevation of 6,542 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at GDQ. Combined with a high temperature, this could make GDQ a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
• The furthest airport from Gondar Atse Tewodros Airport (GDQ) is Raroia Airport (RRR), which is nearly antipodal to Gondar Atse Tewodros Airport (meaning Gondar Atse Tewodros Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Raroia Airport), and is located 12,193 miles (19,623 kilometers) away in Raroia, French Polynesia.

Facts about Lajes Air Base (TER):

• In addition to being known as "Lajes Air Base", other names for TER include "Base Aérea das Lajes", "Base Aérea Nº 4" and "Aeroporto das Lajes".
• Despite NATO and non-NATO fighter and transport planes which continue to use Lajes on a regular basis, the US DoD movements are now at an all time low.
• The furthest airport from Lajes Air Base (TER) is Merimbula Airport (MIM), which is nearly antipodal to Lajes Air Base (meaning Lajes Air Base is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Merimbula Airport), and is located 12,229 miles (19,680 kilometers) away in Merimbula, New South Wales, Australia.
• During World War II, the designation of the airfield was changed to Air Base No.4 and the Portuguese government expanded the runway, sending troops and equipment to Terceira, including Gloster Gladiator fighters.
• In the summer of 1984, Lajes undertook a new mission known as "SILK PURSE." Boeing EC-135s began operating out of Lajes Field as an airborne command post for the U.S.
• Because of Lajes Air Base's relatively low elevation of 180 feet, planes can take off or land at Lajes Air Base 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.
• In 1961, the Portuguese Air Force EICAP was transferred to Lajes, operating Douglas C-47, Douglas C-54 and later CASA C-212 Aviocar.
• The civilian terminal also plays an important role in support of passenger and cargo airliners, executive, corporate and private jets flying to the island or beyond as the central location in the Azores group of islands makes it an ideal spot for refuelling or stopover.
• The closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.
• Lajes Air Base (TER) currently has only 1 runway.
• Lajes supported the large airlift during the Gulf War.