Nonstop flight route between Des Moines, Iowa, United States and Wales, Alaska, United States:
Departure Airport:
(41°32'2"N by 93°39'47"W)
Arrival Airport:
(65°37'21"N by 168°5'41"W)
Distance from DSM to WAA:
3,220.94 miles (5,183.58 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- DSM Airport Information
- WAA Airport Information
- Facts about DSM
- Facts about WAA
- 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 WAA
- List of Nearest Airports to WAA
- Map of Furthest Airports from WAA
- List of Furthest Airports from WAA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Des Moines, Iowa, United States and Wales Airport (WAA), Wales, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,221 miles (or 5,184 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 Wales 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 Wales 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: | WAA / PAIW |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Wales, Alaska, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 65°37'21"N by 168°5'41"W |
| Area Served: | Wales, Alaska |
| Operator/Owner: | State of Alaska DOT&PF - Northern Region |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 22 feet (7 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from WAA |
| More Information: | WAA Maps & Info |
Facts about Des Moines International Airport (DSM):
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- In 2011, the City of Des Moines transferred control from the city to the Des Moines Airport Authority.
- 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.
- During the 1920s the Des Moines area had several small private airports for general aviation and airmail.
Facts about Wales Airport (WAA):
- The furthest airport from Wales Airport (WAA) is Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Airport (TNM), which is located 10,385 miles (16,713 kilometers) away in Villa Las Estrellas, Antarctica.
- Because of Wales Airport's relatively low elevation of 22 feet, planes can take off or land at Wales 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.
- Wales Airport (WAA) currently has only 1 runway.
- In addition to being known as "Wales Airport", another name for WAA is "IWK".
- The closest airport to Wales Airport (WAA) is Tin City LRRS Airport (TNC), which is located only 6 miles (10 kilometers) SE of WAA.
| 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 | 6.43 miles (10.35 km) SE | Tin City LRRS Airport (TNC) | Tin City, Alaska, United States | |
| 2 | 26.11 miles (42.02 km) WNW | Diomede Heliport (FAA: DM2) (DIO) | Diomede, Alaska, United States | |
| 3 | 30.94 miles (49.79 km) ESE | Lost River 1 Airport (LSR) | Lost River, Alaska, United States | |
| 4 | 43.71 miles (70.34 km) SE | Port Clarence Coast Guard Station (KPC) | Port Clarence, Alaska, United States | |
| 5 | 50.86 miles (81.86 km) ESE | Brevig Mission Airport (KTS) | Brevig Mission, Alaska, United States | |
| 6 | 56.93 miles (91.61 km) ESE | Teller Airport (TLA) | Teller, Alaska, United States | |
| 7 | 71.19 miles (114.57 km) NE | Shishmaref Airport (SHH) | Shishmaref, Alaska, United States | |
| 8 | 108.80 miles (175.10 km) SE | Nome Airport (OME) | Nome, Alaska, United States | |
| 9 | 136.47 miles (219.62 km) ESE | Council Airport (CIL) | Council, Alaska, United States | |
| 10 | 150.40 miles (242.04 km) ESE | White Mountain Airport (WMO) | White Mountain, Alaska, United States | |
| 11 | 151.38 miles (243.62 km) SSW | Savoonga Airport (SVA) | Savoonga, Alaska, United States | |
| 12 | 153.73 miles (247.41 km) ENE | Deering Airport (DRG) | Deering, Alaska, United States | |
| 13 | 165.51 miles (266.36 km) ESE | Golovin Airport (GLV) | Golovin, Alaska, United States | |
| 14 | 167.23 miles (269.13 km) SW | Gambell Airport (GAM) | Gambell, Alaska, United States | |
| 15 | 173.10 miles (278.57 km) WSW | Provideniya Bay Airport (PVS) | Provideniya, Chukotka, Russia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,385.16 miles (16,713.26 km) ESE | Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Airport (TNM) | Villa Las Estrellas, Antarctica | |
| 2 | 10,232.25 miles (16,467.17 km) S | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Cape Town, South Africa | |
| 3 | 10,209.66 miles (16,430.81 km) SSW | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 4 | 10,178.37 miles (16,380.46 km) SSW | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 5 | 10,135.46 miles (16,311.41 km) SSW | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 6 | 10,089.52 miles (16,237.46 km) SSW | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 7 | 9,978.66 miles (16,059.06 km) SSW | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 8 | 9,943.75 miles (16,002.87 km) S | Kleinsee Airport (KLZ) | Kleinzee, South Africa | |
| 9 | 9,912.65 miles (15,952.83 km) ESE | Port Stanley Airport (PSY) | Stanley, Falkland Islands, United Kingdom | |
| 10 | 9,911.38 miles (15,950.78 km) SSW | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 11 | 9,908.48 miles (15,946.11 km) S | Aggeneys Airport (AGZ) | Aggeneys, South Africa | |
| 12 | 9,908.48 miles (15,946.11 km) S | Wild Coast Sun Airport (MZF) | Mzamba, South Africa | |
| 13 | 9,901.22 miles (15,934.43 km) ESE | RAF Mount Pleasant (MPN) | Falkland Islands | |
| 14 | 9,876.73 miles (15,895.01 km) SSW | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 9,870.18 miles (15,884.48 km) SSW | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |