Nonstop flight route between Des Moines, Iowa, United States and Nukutavake, Tuamotus, French Polynesia:
Departure Airport:
(41°32'2"N by 93°39'47"W)
Arrival Airport:
(19°17'6"S by 138°46'18"W)
Distance from DSM to NUK:
5,096.27 miles (8,201.63 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- DSM Airport Information
- NUK Airport Information
- Facts about DSM
- Facts about NUK
- 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 NUK
- List of Nearest Airports to NUK
- Map of Furthest Airports from NUK
- List of Furthest Airports from NUK
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Des Moines, Iowa, United States and Nukutavake Airport (NUK), Nukutavake, Tuamotus, French Polynesia would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,096 miles (or 8,202 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 Nukutavake 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 Nukutavake 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: | NUK / NTGW |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Nukutavake, Tuamotus, French Polynesia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 19°17'6"S by 138°46'18"W |
| Area Served: | Nukutavake |
| Operator/Owner: | DSEAC Polynésie Française |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from NUK |
| More Information: | NUK Maps & Info |
Facts about Des Moines International Airport (DSM):
- This airport is in in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which called it a primary commercial service airport.
- On December 1, 2007, a United Express plane carrying 44 passengers slid off a taxiway while taxiing to the runway for takeoff.
- 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.
- 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.
- Des Moines International Airport covers 2,625 acres at an elevation of 958 feet above mean sea level.
- Interior renovation work began in 2009 on the airport and concluded in 2010.
- 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 Nukutavake Airport (NUK):
- The furthest airport from Nukutavake Airport (NUK) is Al-Baha Domestic Airport (ABT), which is nearly antipodal to Nukutavake Airport (meaning Nukutavake Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Al-Baha Domestic Airport), and is located 12,362 miles (19,895 kilometers) away in Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia.
- In addition to being known as "Nukutavake Airport", another name for NUK is "Aérodrome de Nukutavake".
- Nukutavake Airport (NUK) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Nukutavake Airport (NUK) is Tureira Airport (ZTA), which is located 104 miles (167 kilometers) S of NUK.
| 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 | 103.56 miles (166.67 km) S | Tureira Airport (ZTA) | Tureia, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 2 | 133.61 miles (215.02 km) ENE | Pukarua Airport (PUK) | Pukarua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 3 | 165.04 miles (265.60 km) WNW | Hao Airport (HOI) | Hao, Tuamotu Island, French Polynesia | |
| 4 | 277.00 miles (445.79 km) NNW | Fangatau Airport (FGU) | Fangatau, French Polynesia | |
| 5 | 330.95 miles (532.61 km) NW | Raroia Airport (RRR) | Raroia, French Polynesia | |
| 6 | 362.73 miles (583.76 km) SE | Totegegie Airport (GMR) | Mangareva, Gambier Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 7 | 371.09 miles (597.22 km) WNW | Makemo Airport (MKP) | Makemo, French Polynesia | |
| 8 | 461.86 miles (743.28 km) WNW | Anaa Airport (AAA) | Anaa, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 9 | 505.16 miles (812.97 km) WNW | Fakarava Airport (FAV) | Fakarava, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 10 | 565.18 miles (909.57 km) WNW | Apataki Airport (APK) | Apataki, French Polynesia | |
| 11 | 587.28 miles (945.14 km) WNW | Manihi Airport (XMH) | Manihi, French Polynesia | |
| 12 | 588.08 miles (946.42 km) WNW | Arutua Airport (AXR) | Arutua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 13 | 597.80 miles (962.07 km) WNW | Ahe Airport (AHE) | Ahe, French Polynesia | |
| 14 | 657.72 miles (1,058.49 km) N | Atuona Airport (AUQ) | Atuona, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 15 | 720.38 miles (1,159.34 km) W | Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT) | Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,362.11 miles (19,894.85 km) NNW | Al-Baha Domestic Airport (ABT) | Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia | |
| 2 | 12,334.09 miles (19,849.75 km) WNW | Bisha Domestic Airport (BHH) | Bisha, Saudi Arabia | |
| 3 | 12,318.71 miles (19,824.99 km) NW | Abha Regional Airport (AHB) | Abha / Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia | |
| 4 | 12,278.53 miles (19,760.33 km) NNE | Ta'if Regional Airport (TIF) | Ta'if, Saudi Arabia | |
| 5 | 12,223.86 miles (19,672.35 km) NE | King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | |
| 6 | 12,197.82 miles (19,630.44 km) WNW | Najran Domestic Airport (EAM) | Najran (Nejran), Saudi Arabia | |
| 7 | 12,176.25 miles (19,595.73 km) E | Port Sudan New International Airport (PZU) | Port Sudan, Sudan | |
| 8 | 12,159.41 miles (19,568.62 km) NNE | Massawa International Airport (MSW) | Massawa, Eritrea | |
| 9 | 12,121.39 miles (19,507.44 km) NNE | Asmara International Airport (ASM) | Asmara, Eritrea | |
| 10 | 12,107.95 miles (19,485.81 km) NW | El Rahaba Airport (Sana'a International) (SAH) | Sana'a, Yemen | |
| 11 | 12,103.06 miles (19,477.93 km) NNW | Hodeida International Airport (HOD) | Al Hudaydah (Hodeida), Yemen | |
| 12 | 12,059.94 miles (19,408.55 km) NNE | Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport (MED) | Medina, Saudi Arabia | |
| 13 | 12,045.87 miles (19,385.90 km) NNE | Axum Emperor Yohannes IV Airport (AXU) | Axum, Ethiopia | |
| 14 | 12,044.44 miles (19,383.59 km) NNE | Yanbu International Airport (YNB) | Yanbu (Yenbo), Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia | |
| 15 | 12,034.66 miles (19,367.85 km) NNW | Dawadmi Domestic Airport (DWD) | Dawadmi, Saudi Arabia | |