Nonstop flight route between Hanimaadhoo, Haa Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives and St Athan, Wales, United Kingdom:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Hanimaadhoo International Airport (HAQ), Hanimaadhoo, Haa Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives and MoD St Athan (DGX), St Athan, Wales, United Kingdom would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,278 miles (or 8,494 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 Hanimaadhoo International Airport and MoD St Athan, 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 Hanimaadhoo International Airport and MoD St Athan. 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 Hanimaadhoo International Airport (HAQ):

• The furthest airport from Hanimaadhoo International Airport (HAQ) is Seymour Airport (GPS), which is located 11,215 miles (18,049 kilometers) away in Baltra Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.
• Because of Hanimaadhoo International Airport's relatively low elevation of 3 feet, planes can take off or land at Hanimaadhoo International 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.
• Hanimaadhoo International Airport (HAQ) currently has only 1 runway.
• In addition to being known as "Hanimaadhoo International Airport", another name for HAQ is "ހަނިމާދޫ ބައިނަލްއަޤުވާމީ ވައިގެ ބަނދަރު".
• The closest airport to Hanimaadhoo International Airport (HAQ) is Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (MLE), which is located 178 miles (287 kilometers) S of HAQ.

Facts about MoD St Athan (DGX):

• The closest airport to MoD St Athan (DGX) is Cardiff Airport (CWL), which is located only 4 miles (6 kilometers) E of DGX.
• MoD St Athan (DGX) currently has only 1 runway.
• During the war a dummy airfield was built using wood and cardboard a few miles west of the original airfield and successful efforts were made to hide the proper field.
• RAF St Athan has been used to house a number of army units throughout its life and, in 2003, the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards moved from Aldershot to St Athan - the first time they have been based in Wales since they were formed in 1915.
• On 26 August 1993 an ATC civilian instructor was seriously injured and the RAF Volunteer Reserve pilot, Group Captain Roger Sweatman, was killed when their Chipmunk trainer, on an air experience flight, crashed after encountering difficulties during a simulated emergency low-height manoeuvre on take-off.
• In March 2004, however, DARA announced the loss of 550 jobs at St Athan as part of streamlining to make DARA more efficient and better able to compete with the private sector for lucrative aircraft repair contracts, but also because they lost out to a direct RAF bid for a contract to upgrade the air force's fleet of ageing Harrier jump jet aircraft.
• The furthest airport from MoD St Athan (DGX) is Dunedin International Airport (DUD), which is located 11,960 miles (19,248 kilometers) away in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.
• Because of MoD St Athan's relatively low elevation of 163 feet, planes can take off or land at MoD St Athan 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.
• After the war, airmen of the Airframe and Engine trades continued to train at St Athan, but in 1955 this training dispersed to RAF Kirkham and RAF Weeton.