Nonstop flight route between Natal, Brazil and Lajes, Azores, Portugal:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Augusto Severo International Airport (NAT), Natal, Brazil and Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,130 miles (or 5,038 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 Augusto Severo 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 Augusto Severo 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 Augusto Severo International Airport (NAT):

• Augusto Severo International Airport handled 2,408,206 passengers last year.
• Augusto Severo International Airport (NAT) has 3 runways.
• The closest airport to Augusto Severo International Airport (NAT) is Presidente Castro Pinto International Airport (JPA), which is located 88 miles (142 kilometers) SSE of NAT.
• The airport is located 18 km from downtown Natal.
• In addition to being known as "Augusto Severo International Airport", another name for NAT is "Aeroporto Internacional Augusto Severo".
• Because of Augusto Severo International Airport's relatively low elevation of 167 feet, planes can take off or land at Augusto Severo 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 Augusto Severo International Airport (NAT) is Falalop Airfield (ULI), which is located 11,994 miles (19,303 kilometers) away in Falalop Island, Yap, Federated States of Micronesia.
• Some of its facilities are shared with the Natal Air Force Base of the Brazilian Air Force.
• The airport gained an important role during World War II as a strategic base for aircraft flying between South America and West Africa.

Facts about Lajes Air Base (TER):

• 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.
• 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.
• In 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization military alliance was established.
• Civilian operators may use Terceira Airport/Lajes Air Base after requesting a landing permit according to the rules inscribed in the AIP for Portugal, issued by the Portuguese Directorate of Civilian Aviation.
• 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 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".