Nonstop flight route between Des Moines, Iowa, United States and Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Des Moines, Iowa, United States and Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,685 miles (or 12,368 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 Hong Kong 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 Hong Kong 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 Des Moines International Airport (DSM):

• Des Moines International Airport is a civil-military public airport three miles southwest of Des Moines, in Polk County, Iowa.
• 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 closest airport to Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is Ankeny Regional Airport (IKV), which is located only 12 miles (19 kilometers) NNE of DSM.
• In 2012, the airport had 1,038,484 enplanementsFederal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 919,990 passenger boardings in calendar year 2008, 853,596 in 2009 and 932,828 in 2011.
• On December 18, 2010, a small red Beechcraft Bonanza crashed while performing an emergency landing at DSM.
• 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.
• Des Moines International Airport (DSM) has 2 runways.

Facts about Hong Kong International Airport (HKG):

• A 1974 planning study by the Civil Aviation and Public Works departments identified the small island of Chek Lap Kok, off Lantau Island, as a possible airport replacement site.
• The head office of Hong Kong Airlines was previously on Level 2 of the CNAC House at HKIA.
• Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) has 2 runways.
• Officially opened in June 2007, the second airport terminal, called T2, is linked with the MTR Airport Express on a new platform.
• The detailed design for the airport terminal was awarded to a consortium led by Mott Connell with British Airports Authority as specialist designers for airport related aspects, Foster and Partners as architects and Ove Arup as specialist structural designers for the roof.
• In the PADS study the consultants advised that the earliest the airport could be opened was January 1998.
• Terminal 2, together with the Skyplaza, opened on 28 February 2007 along with the opening of the Airport Station's Platform 3.
• HKIA is an important contributor to Hong Kong's economy, with approximately 65,000 employees.
• Hong Kong International Airport handled 59,900,000 passengers last year.
• The closest airport to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) is Shun Tak Heliport (HHP), which is located only 15 miles (25 kilometers) E of HKG.
• The interior of Terminal 1 at night-time
• The furthest airport from Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) is Capitán Oriel Lea Plaza International Airport (TJA), which is nearly antipodal to Hong Kong International Airport (meaning Hong Kong International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Capitán Oriel Lea Plaza International Airport), and is located 12,334 miles (19,850 kilometers) away in Tarija, Bolivia.
• Because of Hong Kong International Airport's relatively low elevation of 28 feet, planes can take off or land at Hong Kong 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.
• In addition to being known as "Hong Kong International Airport", other names for HKG include "Chek Lap Kok Airport" and "香港國際機場赤鱲角機場".