Nonstop flight route between Marrakech, Morocco and Shemya, Alaska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK), Marrakech, Morocco and Eareckson Air Station (SYA), Shemya, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,609 miles (or 10,637 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 Marrakesh Menara Airport 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 Marrakesh Menara Airport 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 Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK):

• During World War II, the airport was used by the United States Army Air Forces Air Transport Command as a hub for cargo, transiting aircraft and personnel.
• Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK) currently has only 1 runway.
• The closest airport to Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK) is Ouarzazate Airport (OZZ), which is located 81 miles (130 kilometers) SE of RAK.
• In addition to being known as "Marrakesh Menara Airport", other names for RAK include "Aéroport Marrakech Ménara" and "مطار مراكش المنارة".
• The paved runway is laid out in the direction 10/28 is 3,100 by 45 metres.
• Currently Menara Airport has formally two passenger terminals, but these are more or less combined to form one large terminal.
• Marrakesh Menara Airport handled 3,373,475 passengers last year.
• The furthest airport from Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK) is Kaitaia Airport (KAT), which is nearly antipodal to Marrakesh Menara Airport (meaning Marrakesh Menara Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Kaitaia Airport), and is located 12,186 miles (19,611 kilometers) away in Kaitaia, New Zealand.

Facts about Eareckson Air Station (SYA):

• In August 1988, at least one Aries rocket was launched, relating to the Queen Match program, for anti-ballistic missile testing.
• 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.
• The 404th Bombardment Squadron flew B-24 Liberator heavy bombers along with one Beechcraft AT-7, which was used for navigator training.
• 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.
• Eareckson Air Station (SYA) currently has only 1 runway.
• 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.
• In addition to being known as "Eareckson Air Station", other names for SYA include "Shemya Air Force Base", "Shemya Army Airfield" and "  ".
• After the disastrous attack, the focus of Eleventh Air Force was shifted to a defensive posture in the event of retaliatory attacks from the Japanese.
• In 1958, the Air Force resumed operations on Shemya in support of various Air Force and Army strategic intelligence collection activities.