Nonstop flight route between Des Moines, Iowa, United States and Fangatau, French Polynesia:
Departure Airport:
(41°32'2"N by 93°39'47"W)
Arrival Airport:
(15°49'10"S by 140°53'12"W)
Distance from DSM to FGU:
4,977.44 miles (8,010.40 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- DSM Airport Information
- FGU Airport Information
- Facts about DSM
- Facts about FGU
- 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 FGU
- List of Nearest Airports to FGU
- Map of Furthest Airports from FGU
- List of Furthest Airports from FGU
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Des Moines, Iowa, United States and Fangatau Airport (FGU), Fangatau, French Polynesia would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,977 miles (or 8,010 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 Fangatau 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 Fangatau 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: | FGU / NTGB |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Fangatau, French Polynesia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 15°49'10"S by 140°53'12"W |
| Area Served: | Fangatau, Tuamotu, French Polynesia |
| Operator/Owner: | DSEAC Polynésie Française |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 10 feet (3 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from FGU |
| More Information: | FGU 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.
- During the 1920s the Des Moines area had several small private airports for general aviation and airmail.
- Des Moines International Airport covers 2,625 acres at an elevation of 958 feet above mean sea level.
- 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.
- On March 13, 2008, an Atlanta-bound ASA flight was delayed more than five hours when a mouse was discovered shortly before take-off from DSM.
- 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.
Facts about Fangatau Airport (FGU):
- Because of Fangatau Airport's relatively low elevation of 10 feet, planes can take off or land at Fangatau 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 closest airport to Fangatau Airport (FGU) is Raroia Airport (RRR), which is located 107 miles (172 kilometers) W of FGU.
- Fangatau Airport (FGU) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Fangatau Airport (FGU) is Massawa International Airport (MSW), which is nearly antipodal to Fangatau Airport (meaning Fangatau Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Massawa International Airport), and is located 12,417 miles (19,984 kilometers) away in Massawa, Eritrea.
- In addition to being known as "Fangatau Airport", another name for FGU is "Aérodrome de Fangatau".
| 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 | 106.80 miles (171.87 km) W | Raroia Airport (RRR) | Raroia, French Polynesia | |
| 2 | 155.85 miles (250.82 km) S | Hao Airport (HOI) | Hao, Tuamotu Island, French Polynesia | |
| 3 | 191.15 miles (307.62 km) WSW | Makemo Airport (MKP) | Makemo, French Polynesia | |
| 4 | 277.00 miles (445.79 km) SSE | Nukutavake Airport (NUK) | Nukutavake, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 5 | 307.56 miles (494.97 km) SE | Pukarua Airport (PUK) | Pukarua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 6 | 317.31 miles (510.67 km) W | Fakarava Airport (FAV) | Fakarava, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 7 | 323.98 miles (521.39 km) WSW | Anaa Airport (AAA) | Anaa, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 8 | 358.69 miles (577.25 km) WNW | Manihi Airport (XMH) | Manihi, French Polynesia | |
| 9 | 368.03 miles (592.28 km) W | Apataki Airport (APK) | Apataki, French Polynesia | |
| 10 | 370.84 miles (596.81 km) WNW | Ahe Airport (AHE) | Ahe, French Polynesia | |
| 11 | 374.47 miles (602.65 km) SSE | Tureira Airport (ZTA) | Tureia, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 12 | 383.70 miles (617.51 km) W | Arutua Airport (AXR) | Arutua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 13 | 436.72 miles (702.83 km) NNE | Atuona Airport (AUQ) | Atuona, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 14 | 525.41 miles (845.56 km) W | Mataiva Airport (MVT) | Mataiva, French Polynesia | |
| 15 | 589.68 miles (949.00 km) WSW | Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT) | Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,417.40 miles (19,983.82 km) WNW | Massawa International Airport (MSW) | Massawa, Eritrea | |
| 2 | 12,397.92 miles (19,952.46 km) NNE | Asmara International Airport (ASM) | Asmara, Eritrea | |
| 3 | 12,318.37 miles (19,824.45 km) N | Axum Emperor Yohannes IV Airport (AXU) | Axum, Ethiopia | |
| 4 | 12,271.85 miles (19,749.57 km) N | Alula Aba Nega Airport (MQX) | Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia | |
| 5 | 12,249.11 miles (19,712.98 km) E | Kassala Airport (KSL) | Kassala, Sudan | |
| 6 | 12,234.05 miles (19,688.75 km) NE | Humera Airport (HUE) | Humera, Ethiopia | |
| 7 | 12,212.59 miles (19,654.21 km) ENE | Khashm El Girba Airport (GBU) | Khashm El Girba, Sudan | |
| 8 | 12,182.56 miles (19,605.88 km) NNE | Gondar Atse Tewodros Airport (GDQ) | Gondar, Ethiopia | |
| 9 | 12,170.95 miles (19,587.20 km) N | Lalibela Airport (LLI) | Lalibela, Ethiopia | |
| 10 | 12,168.98 miles (19,584.03 km) WNW | Hodeida International Airport (HOD) | Al Hudaydah (Hodeida), Yemen | |
| 11 | 12,158.14 miles (19,566.59 km) NNE | Port Sudan New International Airport (PZU) | Port Sudan, Sudan | |
| 12 | 12,155.03 miles (19,561.58 km) NNE | Debre Tabor Airport (DBT) | Debre Tabor, Ethiopia | |
| 13 | 12,149.11 miles (19,552.05 km) NW | Abha Regional Airport (AHB) | Abha / Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia | |
| 14 | 12,133.68 miles (19,527.21 km) NW | Assab International Airport (ASA) | Assab, Eritrea | |
| 15 | 12,107.03 miles (19,484.33 km) N | Combolcha Airport (DSE) | Dessie / Kombolcha, Ethiopia | |