Nonstop flight route between Lajes, Azores, Portugal and Maiquetía (near Caracas), Venezuela:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal and Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" International Airport (CCS), Maiquetía (near Caracas), Venezuela would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,131 miles (or 5,039 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 Lajes Air Base and Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" International Airport, 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 Lajes Air Base and Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" International Airport. 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 Lajes Air Base (TER):

• In the late 1950s, USAF air refueling/tanker aircraft were stationed at Lajes to provide inflight refueling for U.S.
• 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 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.
• 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.
• The closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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".
• 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.
• Lajes supported the large airlift during the Gulf War.

Facts about Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" International Airport (CCS):

• 1D = Domestic Terminal, I = International Terminal.
• In addition to being known as "Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" International Airport", another name for CCS is "Aeropuerto Internacional de Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar"".
• Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" International Airport (CCS) has 2 runways.
• Since 2000, the airport has been undergoing major changes in order to meet international standards and to improve passenger traffic, security, immigration areas, and customs areas.
• The closest airport to Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" International Airport (CCS) is El Libertador (MYC), which is located 49 miles (78 kilometers) SW of CCS.
• The furthest airport from Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" International Airport (CCS) is Blimbingsari Airport (BWX), which is nearly antipodal to Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" International Airport (meaning Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Blimbingsari Airport), and is located 12,254 miles (19,721 kilometers) away in Banyuwangi Regency, East Java, Java Island, Indonesia.
• In the 1970s an international terminal was constructed to offer increased capacity with a domestic terminal opening in the 1980s.
• Because of Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" International Airport's relatively low elevation of 235 feet, planes can take off or land at Maiquetía "Simón Bolívar" 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.