Nonstop flight route between Christiansted, Saint Croix, United States Virgin Islands and Lajes, Azores, Portugal:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport (STX), Christiansted, Saint Croix, United States Virgin Islands and Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,689 miles (or 4,327 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 Henry E. Rohlsen 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 Henry E. Rohlsen 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 Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport (STX):

• The closest airport to Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport (STX) is Christiansted Harbor Seaplane Base (SSB), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) ENE of STX.
• Because of Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport's relatively low elevation of 74 feet, planes can take off or land at Henry E. Rohlsen 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.
• Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport (STX) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport (STX) is Barrow Island Airport (BWB), which is nearly antipodal to Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport (meaning Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Barrow Island Airport), and is located 12,218 miles (19,663 kilometers) away in Barrow Island, Western Australia, Australia.

Facts about Lajes Air Base (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.
• The base also supports other NATO and non-NATO armed forces assets crossing the Atlantic for transport, VIP, exercise, relief or humanitarian duties.
• 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.
• The civilian terminal also plays an important role in support of passenger and cargo airliners, executive, corporate and private jets flying to the island or beyond as the central location in the Azores group of islands makes it an ideal spot for refuelling or stopover.
• Recently, in August 2010, Portuguese news agencies advised for the termination of the F-22 Raptor plan to use Lajes as a platform for DACT training over the Atlantic Ocean.
• 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".
• During World War II, the designation of the airfield was changed to Air Base No.4 and the Portuguese government expanded the runway, sending troops and equipment to Terceira, including Gloster Gladiator fighters.
• In 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization military alliance was established.
• The closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.
• 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.