Nonstop flight route between Des Moines, Iowa, United States and Elcho Island, Northern Territory, Australia:
Departure Airport:
(41°32'2"N by 93°39'47"W)
Arrival Airport:
(12°1'11"S by 135°34'11"E)
Distance from DSM to ELC:
8,846.49 miles (14,237.01 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- DSM Airport Information
- ELC Airport Information
- Facts about DSM
- Facts about ELC
- 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 ELC
- List of Nearest Airports to ELC
- Map of Furthest Airports from ELC
- List of Furthest Airports from ELC
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Des Moines, Iowa, United States and Elcho Island Airport (ELC), Elcho Island, Northern Territory, Australia would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,846 miles (or 14,237 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 Elcho Island 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 Elcho Island 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: | ELC / YELD |
| Airport Name: | Elcho Island Airport |
| Location: | Elcho Island, Northern Territory, Australia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 12°1'11"S by 135°34'11"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Marthakal Yolngu Airline |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 101 feet (31 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from ELC |
| More Information: | ELC 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.
- Des Moines International Airport (DSM) has 2 runways.
- The airport hosts the Des Moines Air National Guard Base and 132d Fighter Wing of the Iowa Air National Guard.
- 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.
- As of March 2014, Delta Air Lines handled of DSM passengers, followed by United Airlines, American Airlines, US Airways, Southwest Airlines, Allegiant Airlines, and Frontier Airlines.
- 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.
- 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.
- In 2011, the City of Des Moines transferred control from the city to the Des Moines Airport Authority.
Facts about Elcho Island Airport (ELC):
- Because of Elcho Island Airport's relatively low elevation of 101 feet, planes can take off or land at Elcho Island 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 furthest airport from Elcho Island Airport (ELC) is Cayenne – Félix Eboué Airport (CAY), which is located 11,701 miles (18,831 kilometers) away in Cayenne, French Guiana.
- Elcho Island Airport (ELC) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Elcho Island Airport (ELC) is Lake Evella Airport (LEL), which is located 37 miles (59 kilometers) SSE of ELC.
| 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 | 36.66 miles (59.00 km) SSE | Lake Evella Airport (LEL) | Gapuwiyak (Lake Evella), Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 2 | 45.99 miles (74.02 km) W | Milingimbi Airport (MGT) | Milingimbi Island, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 3 | 90.30 miles (145.33 km) W | Maningrida Airport (MNG) | Maningrida, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 4 | 147.77 miles (237.81 km) SSE | Groote Eylandt Airport (GTE) | Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 5 | 185.97 miles (299.29 km) WSW | Jabiru Airport (JAB) | Jabiru, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 6 | 217.11 miles (349.40 km) WNW | Croker Island Airport (CKI) | Croker Island, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 7 | 283.94 miles (456.96 km) S | Borroloola Airport (BOX) | Borroloola, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 8 | 307.60 miles (495.04 km) S | McArthur River Mine Airport (MCV) | McArthur River, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 9 | 318.10 miles (511.93 km) W | Darwin International Airport (DRW) | Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 10 | 335.13 miles (539.34 km) W | Bathurst Island Airport (BRT) | Bathurst Island, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 11 | 335.15 miles (539.37 km) W | Snake Bay Airport (SNB) | Milikapiti, Melville Island, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 12 | 350.69 miles (564.39 km) W | Garden Point Airport (GPN) | Pirlangimpi, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 13 | 408.76 miles (657.83 km) NE | Mopah Airport (MKQ) | Merauke, Papua, Indonesia | |
| 14 | 420.76 miles (677.15 km) NNW | Benjina-Nangasuri Airport (BJK) | Benjina, Muluku, Indonesia | |
| 15 | 424.71 miles (683.50 km) ESE | Aurukun Airport (AUU) | Aurukun, Queensland, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,701.28 miles (18,831.34 km) NE | Cayenne – Félix Eboué Airport (CAY) | Cayenne, French Guiana | |
| 2 | 11,641.25 miles (18,734.73 km) ENE | Albina Airstrip (ABN) | Albina, Suriname | |
| 3 | 11,601.70 miles (18,671.08 km) NE | Saül Airport (XAU) | Saül, French Guiana | |
| 4 | 11,586.59 miles (18,646.77 km) ENE | Zorg en Hoop Airport (ORG) | Paramaribo, Suriname | |
| 5 | 11,573.69 miles (18,626.01 km) ENE | Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport (PBM) | Zanderij (near Paramaribo), Suriname | |
| 6 | 11,572.77 miles (18,624.52 km) NE | Stoelmans Eiland Airstrip (SMZ) | Stoelmans Eiland, Suriname | |
| 7 | 11,561.90 miles (18,607.03 km) NE | Maripasoula Airport (MPY) | Maripasoula, French Guiana | |
| 8 | 11,549.25 miles (18,586.67 km) NE | Drietabbetje Airstrip (DRJ) | Drietabbetje, Suriname | |
| 9 | 11,520.57 miles (18,540.51 km) ENE | Totness Airstrip (TOT) | Totness, Coronie, Suriname | |
| 10 | 11,519.39 miles (18,538.61 km) NE | Laduani Airstrip (LDO) | Ladouanie, Suriname | |
| 11 | 11,510.58 miles (18,524.44 km) NE | Botopasi Airstrip (BTO) | Botopasi, Suriname | |
| 12 | 11,500.13 miles (18,507.62 km) NE | Djoemoe Airstrip (DOE) | Djumu (Djoemoe), Suriname | |
| 13 | 11,498.81 miles (18,505.50 km) ENE | Wageningen Airstrip (AGI) | Wageningen, Suriname | |
| 14 | 11,492.71 miles (18,495.68 km) NNE | Macapá-Alberto Alcolumbre International Airport (MCP) | Macapá, Amapá, Brazil | |
| 15 | 11,490.39 miles (18,491.94 km) NE | Cayana Airstrip (AAJ) | Awaradam, Suriname | |