Nonstop flight route between Valdosta, Georgia, United States and Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Valdosta Regional AirportValdosta Army Auxiliary Airfield (VLD), Valdosta, Georgia, United States and King Shaka International (DUR), Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,577 miles (or 13,804 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 Valdosta Regional AirportValdosta Army Auxiliary Airfield and King Shaka International, 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 Valdosta Regional AirportValdosta Army Auxiliary Airfield and King Shaka International. 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 Valdosta Regional AirportValdosta Army Auxiliary Airfield (VLD):

• Because of Valdosta Regional AirportValdosta Army Auxiliary Airfield's relatively low elevation of 203 feet, planes can take off or land at Valdosta Regional AirportValdosta Army Auxiliary Airfield 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 closest airport to Valdosta Regional AirportValdosta Army Auxiliary Airfield (VLD) is Moody Air Force Base (VAD), which is located only 14 miles (22 kilometers) NNE of VLD.
• The furthest airport from Valdosta Regional AirportValdosta Army Auxiliary Airfield (VLD) is Kalbarri Airport (KAX), which is located 11,359 miles (18,281 kilometers) away in Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia.
• Valdosta Regional AirportValdosta Army Auxiliary Airfield (VLD) has 3 runways.

Facts about King Shaka International (DUR):

• Construction of the airport commenced on 24 August 2007, immediately after the approval of the EIA.
• Although the larger airport was built to grow the area's international services, it is also a key airport for domestic services throughout South Africa, serving the "Golden Triangle" between Cape Town International Airport, OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, and KSIA itself with 7 airlines.
• The closest airport to King Shaka International (DUR) is Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB), which is located 43 miles (69 kilometers) W of DUR.
• The furthest airport from King Shaka International (DUR) is Hana Airport (HNM), which is located 11,682 miles (18,801 kilometers) away in Hana, Hawaii, United States.
• The project was revived in the late 1990s when the limitations of Durban International Airport became apparent.
• Because of King Shaka International's relatively low elevation of 295 feet, planes can take off or land at King Shaka International 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 terminal does not have a public viewing deck, which has attracted public criticism.
• It is unclear what the fate of the existing Durban International Airport will be now that KSIA is complete.
• King Shaka International (DUR) currently has only 1 runway.
• In response to the study, ACSA contracted De-Tect Inc.
• In 2013 Skytrax announced that King Shaka International Airport was the best airport in the world handling under 5 million passengers.