Nonstop flight route between Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong and Lajes, Azores, Portugal:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong and Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,520 miles (or 12,103 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 Hong Kong International 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 Hong Kong International 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 Hong Kong International Airport (HKG):

• The closest airport to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) is Shun Tak Heliport (HHP), which is located only 15 miles (25 kilometers) E of HKG.
• HKIA is an important contributor to Hong Kong's economy, with approximately 65,000 employees.
• Hong Kong International Airport handled 59,900,000 passengers last year.
• In addition to being known as "Hong Kong International Airport", other names for HKG include "Chek Lap Kok Airport" and "香港國際機場赤鱲角機場".
• Exterior view of Hong Kong Airport Satellite Terminal.
• Because of Hong Kong International Airport's relatively low elevation of 28 feet, planes can take off or land at Hong Kong 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.
• The furthest airport from Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) is Capitán Oriel Lea Plaza International Airport (TJA), which is nearly antipodal to Hong Kong International Airport (meaning Hong Kong International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Capitán Oriel Lea Plaza International Airport), and is located 12,334 miles (19,850 kilometers) away in Tarija, Bolivia.
• Terminal 1 Departures Hall entrance
• The airport has been commercially operational since 1998, replacing the former Kai Tak Airport, and is an important regional trans-shipment centre, passenger hub and gateway for destinations in Mainland China and the rest of Asia.
• On 31 July 2000, Todd Salimuchai, a regularised illegal immigrant in Hong Kong with no provable nationality, forced his way through a security checkpoint using a fake pistol, took a woman hostage, and boarded a Cathay Pacific aircraft.
• Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) has 2 runways.

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".
• 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.
• Lajes Air Base (TER) currently has only 1 runway.
• The closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.
• The Portuguese Air Force continues to operate one SAR squadron Esq.
• 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.
• Lajes Field also played a crucial role in Cold War politics.
• Today, Lajes continues to support transiting aircraft.
• The base also supports other NATO and non-NATO armed forces assets crossing the Atlantic for transport, VIP, exercise, relief or humanitarian duties.
• Lajes Field was one of the two stopover and refueling bases for the first transatlantic crossing of non-rigid airships in 1944.