Nonstop flight route between Samos Island, Greece and Lajes, Azores, Portugal:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Samos International Airport "Aristarchos of Samos" (SMI), Samos Island, Greece and Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,888 miles (or 4,648 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 Samos International Airport "Aristarchos of Samos" 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 Samos International Airport "Aristarchos of Samos" 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 Samos International Airport "Aristarchos of Samos" (SMI):

• The closest airport to Samos International Airport "Aristarchos of Samos" (SMI) is Ikaria Island National Airport (JIK), which is located 31 miles (50 kilometers) W of SMI.
• Because of Samos International Airport "Aristarchos of Samos"'s relatively low elevation of 19 feet, planes can take off or land at Samos International Airport "Aristarchos of Samos" 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 Samos International Airport "Aristarchos of Samos" (SMI) is Rurutu Airport (RUR), which is located 11,378 miles (18,310 kilometers) away in Rurutu, French Polynesia.
• Samos International Airport "Aristarchos of Samos" (SMI) currently has only 1 runway.
• In addition to being known as "Samos International Airport "Aristarchos of Samos"", another name for SMI is "Κρατικός Αερολιμένας Σάμου "Αρίσταρχος ο Σάμιος»".
• During the late 1990s/early 2000s, the terminal was renovated – the capacity of the airport was increased to deal with increasing passenger numbers and the terminal was renovated.
• On 3 August 1989, Olympic Aviation Flight 545 crashed into Mount Kerkis while on approach to Samos Airport.

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.
• 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.
• 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.
• The United States and the United Kingdom transferred control of Lajes to Portugal in 1946.
• 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.
• Lajes Air Base (TER) currently has only 1 runway.
• In 1961, the Portuguese Air Force EICAP was transferred to Lajes, operating Douglas C-47, Douglas C-54 and later CASA C-212 Aviocar.
• 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.
• 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".
• Another important Cold War operation at Lajes was the U.S.