Nonstop flight route between Des Moines, Iowa, United States and Bulawayo, Zimbabwe:
Departure Airport:
(41°32'2"N by 93°39'47"W)
Arrival Airport:
(20°1'2"S by 28°37'4"E)
Distance from DSM to BUQ:
8,778.77 miles (14,128.02 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- DSM Airport Information
- BUQ Airport Information
- Facts about DSM
- Facts about BUQ
- 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 BUQ
- List of Nearest Airports to BUQ
- Map of Furthest Airports from BUQ
- List of Furthest Airports from BUQ
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Des Moines, Iowa, United States and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport (BUQ), Bulawayo, Zimbabwe would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,779 miles (or 14,128 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 Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo 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 Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo 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: | BUQ / FVBU |
| Airport Name: | Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport |
| Location: | Bulawayo, Zimbabwe |
| GPS Coordinates: | 20°1'2"S by 28°37'4"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 4359 feet (1,329 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from BUQ |
| More Information: | BUQ Maps & Info |
Facts about Des Moines International Airport (DSM):
- Des Moines International Airport (DSM) has 2 runways.
- The Des Moines Terminal has 2 concourses.
- 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.
- The airport was originally governed by the City of Des Moines' Parks Department.
- In addition to work inside the passenger terminal, the airport is building a rental car facility and new parking facilities.
- 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.
- 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.
Facts about Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport (BUQ):
- The closest airport to Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport (BUQ) is Gweru-Thornhill Air Base (GWE), which is located 90 miles (145 kilometers) ENE of BUQ.
- The furthest airport from Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport (BUQ) is Hilo International Airport (ITO), which is nearly antipodal to Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport (meaning Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Hilo International Airport), and is located 12,198 miles (19,630 kilometers) away in Hilo, Hawaii, United States.
- Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport (BUQ) has 2 runways.
- Because of Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport's high elevation of 4,359 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at BUQ. Combined with a high temperature, this could make BUQ a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11.96 miles (19.24 km) NNE | Ankeny Regional Airport (IKV) | Ankeny, Iowa, United States |     |
| 2 | 31.72 miles (51.05 km) N | Ames Municipal Airport (AMW) | Ames, Iowa, United States | |
| 3 | 32.71 miles (52.64 km) NW | Perry Municipal Airport (PRO) | Perry, Iowa, United States | |
| 4 | 34.53 miles (55.57 km) ENE | Newton Municipal Airport (TNU) | Newton, Iowa, United States | |
| 5 | 36.87 miles (59.33 km) NNW | Boone Municipal Airport (BNW) | Boone, Iowa, United States | |
| 6 | 50.75 miles (81.68 km) SW | Creston Municipal Airport (CSQ) | Creston, Iowa, United States | |
| 7 | 63.25 miles (101.79 km) N | Webster City Municipal Airport (EBS) | Webster City, Iowa, United States | |
| 8 | 67.94 miles (109.34 km) WNW | Arthur N. Neu Airport (CIN) | Carroll, Iowa, United States | |
| 9 | 69.61 miles (112.03 km) ESE | Ottumwa Regional Airport (OTM) | Ottumwa, Iowa, United States | |
| 10 | 72.18 miles (116.16 km) W | Atlantic Municipal Airport (AIO) | Atlantic, Iowa, United States | |
| 11 | 75.34 miles (121.25 km) NNW | Fort Dodge Regional Airport (FOD) | Fort Dodge, Iowa, United States | |
| 12 | 88.26 miles (142.04 km) NNW | Humboldt Municipal Airport (HUD) | Humboldt, Iowa, United States | |
| 13 | 93.36 miles (150.25 km) ESE | Fairfield Municipal Airport (FFL) | Fairfield, Iowa, United States | |
| 14 | 93.88 miles (151.09 km) WNW | Denison Municipal Airport (DNS) | Denison, Iowa, United States | |
| 15 | 95.89 miles (154.31 km) NE | Waterloo Regional Airport (Livingston Betsworth Field) (ALO) | Waterloo, Iowa, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,788.59 miles (17,362.52 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 10,765.59 miles (17,325.49 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 10,745.72 miles (17,293.52 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 10,741.55 miles (17,286.81 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,702.16 miles (17,223.42 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,688.11 miles (17,200.80 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,679.91 miles (17,187.60 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,678.27 miles (17,184.97 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,663.64 miles (17,161.42 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,650.61 miles (17,140.45 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,620.66 miles (17,092.25 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,595.70 miles (17,052.09 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,572.70 miles (17,015.07 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,567.93 miles (17,007.39 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,547.73 miles (16,974.88 km) WSW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 90.32 miles (145.36 km) ENE | Gweru-Thornhill Air Base (GWE) | Gweru, Zimbabwe | |
| 2 | 108.15 miles (174.04 km) SW | Francistown International Airport/Francistown Air Base (FRW) | Francistown, Botswana | |
| 3 | 141.52 miles (227.75 km) NW | Hwange National Park Airport (HWN) | Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe | |
| 4 | 145.49 miles (234.14 km) E | Masvingo Airport (MVZ) | Masvingo, Zimbabwe | |
| 5 | 203.45 miles (327.42 km) ESE | Buffalo Range Airport (BFO) | Chiredzi, Zimbabwe | |
| 6 | 216.59 miles (348.57 km) NE | Harare International Airport (HRE) | Harare, Zimbabwe | |
| 7 | 224.85 miles (361.86 km) NW | Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) | Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe | |
| 8 | 237.46 miles (382.15 km) NW | Livingstone Airport (LVI) | Livingstone, Zambia | |
| 9 | 242.30 miles (389.95 km) N | Kariba Airport (KAB) | Kariba, Zimbabwe | |
| 10 | 260.56 miles (419.32 km) E | Chipinge Airport (CHJ) | Chipinge, Zimbabwe | |
| 11 | 269.91 miles (434.38 km) SSE | Polokwane International Airport (PTG) | Polokwane, South Africa | |
| 12 | 270.45 miles (435.25 km) ENE | Mutare Airport (UTA) | Mutare, Zimbabwe | |
| 13 | 271.71 miles (437.27 km) WNW | Kasane Airport (BBK) | Kasane, Botswana | |
| 14 | 315.82 miles (508.26 km) SSE | Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW) | Phalaborwa, South Africa | |
| 15 | 318.89 miles (513.20 km) E | Chimoio Airport (VPY) | Chimoio, Mozambique | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,197.69 miles (19,630.23 km) E | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 12,158.55 miles (19,567.24 km) E | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 12,154.97 miles (19,561.48 km) E | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 12,145.83 miles (19,546.77 km) E | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 12,133.18 miles (19,526.42 km) E | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 12,132.06 miles (19,524.60 km) E | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 12,104.38 miles (19,480.06 km) ENE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 12,088.20 miles (19,454.03 km) ENE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 12,072.27 miles (19,428.39 km) E | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 12,065.94 miles (19,418.20 km) ENE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 12,058.98 miles (19,407.01 km) ENE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 12,004.57 miles (19,319.44 km) ENE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 12,004.57 miles (19,319.44 km) ENE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,995.37 miles (19,304.63 km) ENE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,994.90 miles (19,303.88 km) ENE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |