Nonstop flight route between Des Moines, Iowa, United States and Blantyre, Malawi:
Departure Airport:

Arrival Airport:

Distance from DSM to BLZ:
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- About this route
- DSM Airport Information
- BLZ Airport Information
- Facts about DSM
- Facts about BLZ
- Map of Nearest Airports to DSM
- List of Nearest Airports to DSM
- Map of Furthest Airports from DSM
- List of Furthest Airports from DSM
- Map of Nearest Airports to BLZ
- List of Nearest Airports to BLZ
- Map of Furthest Airports from BLZ
- List of Furthest Airports from BLZ
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Des Moines, Iowa, United States and Chileka International Airport (BLZ), Blantyre, Malawi would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,912 miles (or 14,343 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 Des Moines International Airport and Chileka 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 Des Moines International Airport and Chileka International Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | DSM / KDSM |
Airport Name: | Des Moines International Airport |
Location: | Des Moines, Iowa, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 41°32'2"N by 93°39'47"W |
Area Served: | Des Moines, Iowa |
Operator/Owner: | City of Des Moines |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 958 feet (292 meters) |
# of Runways: | 2 |
View all routes: | Routes from DSM |
More Information: | DSM Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | BLZ / FWCL |
Airport Name: | Chileka International Airport |
Location: | Blantyre, Malawi |
GPS Coordinates: | 15°40'44"S by 34°58'26"E |
Area Served: | Blantyre, Malawi |
Operator/Owner: | Government |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 2555 feet (779 meters) |
# of Runways: | 2 |
View all routes: | Routes from BLZ |
More Information: | BLZ Maps & Info |
Facts about Des Moines International Airport (DSM):
- Because of Des Moines International Airport's relatively low elevation of 958 feet, planes can take off or land at Des Moines 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.
- On December 2, 1978, Douglas C-47A N41447 of SMB Stage Line crashed short of the runway while on a cargo flight from Chicago, Illinois.
- Des Moines International Airport (DSM) has 2 runways.
- The closest airport to Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is Ankeny Regional Airport (IKV), which is located only 12 miles (19 kilometers) NNE of DSM.
- The furthest airport from Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 10,789 miles (17,363 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- Interior renovation work began in 2009 on the airport and concluded in 2010.
- This airport is in in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which called it a primary commercial service airport.
Facts about Chileka International Airport (BLZ):
- The furthest airport from Chileka International Airport (BLZ) is Hilo International Airport (ITO), which is located 11,721 miles (18,863 kilometers) away in Hilo, Hawaii, United States.
- Chileka International Airport (BLZ) has 2 runways.
- The closest airport to Chileka International Airport (BLZ) is Chingozi Airport (TCV), which is located 93 miles (150 kilometers) WSW of BLZ.