Nonstop flight route between Valenciennes, France and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Valenciennes-Denain Airport (XVS), Valenciennes, France and Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE), Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,268 miles (or 6,869 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 Valenciennes-Denain Airport and Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker 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 Valenciennes-Denain Airport and Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker 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 Valenciennes-Denain Airport (XVS):

• Denain Airport began as a pre-World War II airport in France, most likely with a grass runway and several support buildings and a hangar.
• C-47 Skytrain transports moved in and out of the American controlled airfield almost immediately after the runway was repaired, supplying the front line forces with the necessary materiel to support their advance.
• The furthest airport from Valenciennes-Denain Airport (XVS) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is located 11,987 miles (19,291 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
• After the construction of a military airfield at Denain, the airfield was reactivated by the Luftwaffe, stationing Jagdgeschwader 3, a day fighter-interceptor unit assigned to the "Defense of the Reich" campaign against the American Eighth Air Force heavy bombers attacking targets in Occupied Europe and Germany.
• In addition to being known as "Valenciennes-Denain Airport", another name for XVS is "(Advanced Landing Ground A-83/B-74)".
• Because of Valenciennes-Denain Airport's relatively low elevation of 177 feet, planes can take off or land at Valenciennes-Denain 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.
• In response to the interceptor attacks, Denain was attacked by USAAF Ninth Air Force B-26 Marauder medium bombers and P-47 Thunderbolts mostly with 500-pound General-Purpose bombs.
• Valenciennes-Denain Airport (XVS) currently has only 1 runway.
• The closest airport to Valenciennes-Denain Airport (XVS) is Lille Airport (LIL), which is located 23 miles (37 kilometers) NW of XVS.

Facts about Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE):

• Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport handled 1,246,405 passengers last year.
• Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE) has 2 runways.
• As a result of the RCAF's post-war expansion, the RCAF re-acquired the military portion of the property and RCAF Station Saskatoon re-opened as an air training facility in October 1950.
• The furthest airport from Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 10,134 miles (16,309 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
• Due to larger aircraft and more frequent flights, in 1972 plans were drafted for a new terminal building.
• In addition to being known as "Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport", another name for YXE is "Saskatoon International Airport".
• In 2010 construction started on apron improvements, remote stands and preparatory work to start on reconstruction of the terminal building in 2011.
• The closest airport to Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE) is North Battleford Airport (YQW), which is located 77 miles (124 kilometers) WNW of YXE.
• In 1940 the city leased the airport to the Royal Canadian Air Force.
• In 1962, control of RCAF Station Saskatoon was transferred from Training Command to Air Transport Command, but this change would be short-lived.