Nonstop flight route between Niagara Falls, New York, United States and Lajes, Azores, Portugal:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Niagara Falls International Airport (IAG), Niagara Falls, New York, United States and Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,680 miles (or 4,313 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 Niagara Falls 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 Niagara Falls 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 Niagara Falls International Airport (IAG):

• The closest airport to Niagara Falls International Airport (IAG) is St. Catharines/Niagara District Airport (YCM), which is located only 13 miles (21 kilometers) WNW of IAG.
• Niagara Falls International Airport handled 200,000 passengers last year.
• Niagara Falls International Airport (IAG) has 3 runways.
• Because of Niagara Falls International Airport's relatively low elevation of 589 feet, planes can take off or land at Niagara Falls 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 Niagara Falls International Airport (IAG) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,450 miles (18,427 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
• Today, the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station is home to the Air Force Reserve Command's 914th Airlift Wing, flying the C-130 Hercules and the New York Air National Guard's 107th Airlift Wing, which shares the 914th AW's C-130 aircraft.
• In March 2007 Direct Air began flying to Myrtle Beach.
• The airport is in Class D airspace and has a FAA control tower.
• During World War II, Bell Aircraft established a large manufacturing plant next to the airport, where during the war it built over 10,000 P-39 Airacobras and P-63 Kingcobras.

Facts about Lajes Air Base (TER):

• 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.
• On January 31, 1951, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster operated by the Portuguese Air Force crashed into the sea while approaching Lajes Field, having taken off from Lisbon, Portugal, killing all 14 on board.
• 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.
• The base also supports other NATO and non-NATO armed forces assets crossing the Atlantic for transport, VIP, exercise, relief or humanitarian duties.
• 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.
• Another important Cold War operation at Lajes was 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 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".
• The United States and the United Kingdom transferred control of Lajes to Portugal in 1946.