Nonstop flight route between Lajes, Azores, Portugal and Tianjin, China:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal and Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN), Tianjin, China would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,603 miles (or 10,627 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 Tianjin Binhai 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 Tianjin Binhai 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):

• Lajes Air Base (TER) currently has only 1 runway.
• 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.
• The base also supports other NATO and non-NATO armed forces assets crossing the Atlantic for transport, VIP, exercise, relief or humanitarian duties.
• 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.
• 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 resident Portuguese 711 Squadron "Albatrozes" was deactivated on 30 November 2006.
• The origin of the Lajes Field dates back to 1928, when Portuguese Army Lieutenant colonel Eduardo Gomes da Silva wrote a report on the possible construction of an airfield in the plainland of Lajes, for that branch's aviation service.
• In the late 1950s, USAF air refueling/tanker aircraft were stationed at Lajes to provide inflight refueling for U.S.

Facts about Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN):

• In 2010, Tianjin Binhai International Airport handled 7,277,106 passengers, a growth of 25.9% over 2009, making it the 22nd busiest airport in China.
• The closest airport to Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN) is Tangshan Sannühe Airport (TVS), which is located 54 miles (87 kilometers) NE of TSN.
• Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN) has 2 runways.
• In addition to being known as "Tianjin Binhai International Airport", other names for TSN include "天津滨海国际机场" and "Tiānjīn Bīnhăi Guójì Jīchǎng".
• Because of Tianjin Binhai International Airport's relatively low elevation of 10 feet, planes can take off or land at Tianjin Binhai 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.
• Construction of a new terminal began in 2005 and was fully operating by 2008.
• Tianjin Binhai International Airport handled 8,139,988 passengers last year.
• The furthest airport from Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN) is Comandante Espora Airport (BHI), which is nearly antipodal to Tianjin Binhai International Airport (meaning Tianjin Binhai International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Comandante Espora Airport), and is located 12,399 miles (19,954 kilometers) away in Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.
• It is the hub airport for Tianjin Airlines, established in 2004, and privately owned Okay Airways.