Nonstop flight route between Syros Island, Greece and Shemya, Alaska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Syros National Airport "Demetrius Vikelas" (JSY), Syros Island, Greece and Eareckson Air Station (SYA), Shemya, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,940 miles (or 9,559 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 Syros National Airport "Demetrius Vikelas" and Eareckson Air Station, 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 Syros National Airport "Demetrius Vikelas" and Eareckson Air Station. 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 Syros National Airport "Demetrius Vikelas" (JSY):

• The closest airport to Syros National Airport "Demetrius Vikelas" (JSY) is Mykonos Island National Airport (JMK), which is located 22 miles (35 kilometers) E of JSY.
• Because of Syros National Airport "Demetrius Vikelas"'s relatively low elevation of 236 feet, planes can take off or land at Syros National Airport "Demetrius Vikelas" 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.
• Syros National Airport "Demetrius Vikelas" (JSY) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from Syros National Airport "Demetrius Vikelas" (JSY) is Rurutu Airport (RUR), which is located 11,378 miles (18,311 kilometers) away in Rurutu, French Polynesia.
• In addition to being known as "Syros National Airport "Demetrius Vikelas"", another name for JSY is "Κρατικός Αερολιμένας Σύρου "Δημήτριος Βικέλας"".

Facts about Eareckson Air Station (SYA):

• Eareckson Air Station (SYA) currently has only 1 runway.
• The closest airport to Eareckson Air Station (SYA) is Casco Cove Coast Guard Station (ATU), which is located 40 miles (65 kilometers) WNW of SYA.
• On 1 April 1995, Eareckson AS was converted to contractor operations and maintenance, providing all support on the island.
• Because of Eareckson Air Station's relatively low elevation of 97 feet, planes can take off or land at Eareckson Air Station 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 Korean War brought extensive use by the Military Air Transport Service for the logistical support of Korea and Japan.
• In addition to being known as "Eareckson Air Station", other names for SYA include "Shemya Air Force Base", "Shemya Army Airfield" and "  ".
• Shemya also continued to support the Great Circle Route for MATS and later Military Airlift Command transports between Japan and Elmendorf AFB.
• By August, Eleventh Air Force B-24s were carrying out successful and accurate attacks on the Japanese military installations and the B-25s were successful in driving the Japanese fishing and much of the shipping out of the North Pacific.
• The furthest airport from Eareckson Air Station (SYA) is Cape Town International Airport (CPT), which is located 10,668 miles (17,168 kilometers) away in Cape Town, South Africa.
• A second attack by B-24 Liberators was launched from Alexai Point and Shemya on 18 July.