Nonstop flight route between Des Moines, Iowa, United States and Plymouth, United Kingdom:
Departure Airport:
(41°32'2"N by 93°39'47"W)
Arrival Airport:
(50°25'22"N by 4°6'20"W)
Distance from DSM to PLH:
4,077.83 miles (6,562.61 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- DSM Airport Information
- PLH Airport Information
- Facts about DSM
- Facts about PLH
- 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 PLH
- List of Nearest Airports to PLH
- Map of Furthest Airports from PLH
- List of Furthest Airports from PLH
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Des Moines, Iowa, United States and Plymouth City Airport (PLH), Plymouth, United Kingdom would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,078 miles (or 6,563 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 Plymouth City 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 Plymouth City 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: | PLH / EGHD |
| Airport Name: | Plymouth City Airport |
| Location: | Plymouth, United Kingdom |
| GPS Coordinates: | 50°25'22"N by 4°6'20"W |
| Area Served: | Plymouth |
| Operator/Owner: | Plymouth City Council |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 476 feet (145 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PLH |
| More Information: | PLH Maps & Info |
Facts about Des Moines International Airport (DSM):
- The Des Moines Terminal has 2 concourses.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Facts about Plymouth City Airport (PLH):
- Further support for the continued use of the airport came in February 2008 when Air Southwest and the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce & Industry announced the results of an air travel survey aimed at over 200 businesses in Plymouth.
- The furthest airport from Plymouth City Airport (PLH) is Dunedin International Airport (DUD), which is nearly antipodal to Plymouth City Airport (meaning Plymouth City Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Dunedin International Airport), and is located 12,030 miles (19,361 kilometers) away in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.
- Concern has been expressed about operation of the Devon Air Ambulance with the closure of the airport - for example no night flights are allowed at nearby Derriford Hospital.
- The closest airport to Plymouth City Airport (PLH) is Exeter International Airport (EXT), which is located 37 miles (60 kilometers) NE of PLH.
- Because of Plymouth City Airport's relatively low elevation of 476 feet, planes can take off or land at Plymouth City 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 September 2007 the airport management announced that the second runway might be sold for industrial and residential development.
- Plymouth City Airport handled 157,933 passengers last year.
- Plymouth City Airport (PLH) currently has only 1 runway.
- On 24 August 2009, Runway 06/24 was closed.
| 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 | 37.22 miles (59.90 km) NE | Exeter International Airport (EXT) | Exeter, United Kingdom | |
| 2 | 39.17 miles (63.03 km) W | Newquay Cornwall Airport (NQY) | Newquay, England, United Kingdom | |
| 3 | 72.56 miles (116.78 km) WSW | Land's End Airport (LEQ) | Land's End, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom | |
| 4 | 73.86 miles (118.86 km) NNE | MoD St Athan (DGX) | St Athan, Wales, United Kingdom | |
| 5 | 75.04 miles (120.77 km) NNE | Cardiff Airport (CWL) | Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom | |
| 6 | 81.72 miles (131.51 km) N | Swansea Airport (SWS) | Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom | |
| 7 | 89.72 miles (144.39 km) NE | Bristol Airport (BRS) | Bristol, England, United Kingdom | |
| 8 | 95.57 miles (153.81 km) SE | Guernsey Airport (GCI) | Guernsey, Channel Islands, United Kingdom | |
| 9 | 97.39 miles (156.73 km) ESE | Alderney Airport (ACI) | Alderney, Channel Islands, United Kingdom | |
| 10 | 100.35 miles (161.49 km) NE | Bristol Filton Airport (FZO) | Filton, Bristol, United Kingdom | |
| 11 | 102.27 miles (164.60 km) ENE | Bournemouth Airport (BOH) | Bournemouth, England, United Kingdom | |
| 12 | 102.94 miles (165.66 km) WSW | St Mary's Airport (ISC) | St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom | |
| 13 | 103.83 miles (167.10 km) WSW | Tresco Heliport (TSO) | Tresco, Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom | |
| 14 | 104.26 miles (167.79 km) NNW | Haverfordwest Aerodrome (HAW) | Haverfordwest, Wales, United Kingdom | |
| 15 | 118.50 miles (190.71 km) NE | RAF Lyneham (LYE) | Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,030.45 miles (19,361.09 km) SE | Dunedin International Airport (DUD) | Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 12,006.20 miles (19,322.05 km) ESE | Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS) | Stewart Island, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,998.81 miles (19,310.16 km) SSE | Oamaru Airport (OAM) | Oamaru, North Otago, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,992.59 miles (19,300.16 km) SE | Invercargill Airport (IVC) | Invercargill, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,966.88 miles (19,258.78 km) SE | Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) | Alexandra, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,961.06 miles (19,249.41 km) SSE | Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (TIU) | Timaru, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,947.14 miles (19,227.00 km) SSE | Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) | Ashburton, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,937.36 miles (19,211.27 km) SE | Queenstown Airport (ZQN) | Queenstown, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,936.06 miles (19,209.18 km) SE | Wanaka Airport (WKA) | Wanaka, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,932.33 miles (19,203.18 km) SSE | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,911.75 miles (19,170.06 km) SSE | Glentanner Aerodrome (GTN) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,903.46 miles (19,156.71 km) SSE | Mount Cook Airport (MON) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,893.35 miles (19,140.45 km) SE | Milford Sound Airport (MFN) | Milford Sound, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,882.15 miles (19,122.42 km) SSE | Fox Glacier Aerodrome (FGL) | Fox Glacier, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,873.60 miles (19,108.66 km) SSE | Kaikoura Aerodrome (KBZ) | Kaikoura, New Zealand | |