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):

• Opened in April 1940, the airport was taken over by the United States Army Air Corps in 1941.
• 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.
• 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.

Facts about King Shaka International (DUR):

• 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 airport is located in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, approximately 35 km north of Durban.
• 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.
• King Shaka International Airport was first conceptualised in the 1970s, with construction beginning in 1973.
• Neighbouring communities are Tongaat to the north-west, Verulam to the south-west, and Umdloti to the south-east.
• The cargo terminal is located to the north of the passenger terminal, and is in the approximate centre of the airport precinct.
• King Shaka International (DUR) currently has only 1 runway.
• Despite wide expectations that the airport would be named "King Shaka International Airport", it emerged in October 2009 that the airport needed to undergo a formal naming process.
• The closest airport to King Shaka International (DUR) is Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB), which is located 43 miles (69 kilometers) W of DUR.
• King Shaka International Airport, also known as La Mercy Airport, and abbreviated KSIA, is the primary airport serving Durban, South Africa.