Nonstop flight route between Roatán, Honduras and Lajes, Azores, Portugal:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Roatan International Airport – Bay Islands (RTB), Roatán, Honduras and Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,882 miles (or 6,248 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 Roatan International Airport – Bay Islands 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 Roatan International Airport – Bay Islands 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 Roatan International Airport – Bay Islands (RTB):

• The Airport is located on the western side of Roatan, next to the main city, Coxen Hole.
• Because of Roatan International Airport – Bay Islands's relatively low elevation of 39 feet, planes can take off or land at Roatan International Airport – Bay Islands 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 airport resides at an elevation of 12 m above mean sea level.
• The furthest airport from Roatan International Airport – Bay Islands (RTB) is Cocos (Keeling) Island Airport (CCK), which is nearly antipodal to Roatan International Airport – Bay Islands (meaning Roatan International Airport – Bay Islands is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Cocos (Keeling) Island Airport), and is located 12,074 miles (19,431 kilometers) away in Cocos Islands, Australia.
• In addition to being known as "Roatan International Airport – Bay Islands", another name for RTB is "Aeropuerto Internacional Roatán – Bay Islands".
• The closest airport to Roatan International Airport – Bay Islands (RTB) is Guanaja Airport (GJA), which is located 42 miles (67 kilometers) ENE of RTB.
• Roatan International Airport – Bay Islands (RTB) currently has only 1 runway.

Facts about Lajes Air Base (TER):

• In 1947, the Portuguese Esquadra 41 started to operate from Lajes, equipped with Boeing SB-17, Grumman HU-16 Albatross, Douglas C-54 Skymaster and, later Sikorsky H-19.
• Lajes Air Base (TER) currently has only 1 runway.
• 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 closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.
• 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.
• Portugal has explored contingencies in the event the United States military eventually abandons Lajes, including the possibility of entering an agreement with the People's Republic of China.
• The resident Portuguese 711 Squadron "Albatrozes" was deactivated on 30 November 2006.
• During the Portuguese Colonial War, from 1961 to 1975, the Air Force Hospital at Lajes operated as the main centre for treatment and rehabilitation of mutilated and heavy burned soldiers of the three services of the Portuguese Armed Forces.
• The base also supports other NATO and non-NATO armed forces assets crossing the Atlantic for transport, VIP, exercise, relief or humanitarian duties.
• The Portuguese Air Force continues to operate one SAR squadron Esq.