Nonstop flight route between Des Moines, Iowa, United States and Ketchikan, Alaska, United States:
Departure Airport:
(41°32'2"N by 93°39'47"W)
Arrival Airport:
(55°20'39"N by 131°39'47"W)
Distance from DSM to WFB:
1,952.20 miles (3,141.76 km)
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- About this route
- DSM Airport Information
- WFB Airport Information
- Facts about DSM
- Facts about WFB
- 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 WFB
- List of Nearest Airports to WFB
- Map of Furthest Airports from WFB
- List of Furthest Airports from WFB
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Des Moines, Iowa, United States and Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base (WFB), Ketchikan, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 1,952 miles (or 3,142 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 relatively short distance between Des Moines International Airport and Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
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: | WFB / |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Ketchikan, Alaska, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 55°20'39"N by 131°39'47"W |
| Area Served: | Ketchikan, Alaska |
| Airport Type: | Public use |
| Elevation: | 0 feet (0 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from WFB |
| More Information: | WFB 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.
- 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.
- 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 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.
- The airport was originally governed by the City of Des Moines' Parks Department.
- 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.
Facts about Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base (WFB):
- Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base (WFB) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base's relatively low elevation of 0 feet, planes can take off or land at Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base 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 Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base (WFB) is Ketchikan International Airport (KTN), which is located only 2 miles (3 kilometers) WNW of WFB.
- The furthest airport from Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base (WFB) is Port Alfred Airport (AFD), which is located 10,613 miles (17,079 kilometers) away in Port Alfred, South Africa.
- In addition to being known as "Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base", another name for WFB is "5KE".
| 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 | 1.99 miles (3.21 km) WNW | Ketchikan International Airport (KTN) | Ketchikan, Alaska, United States | |
| 2 | 15.12 miles (24.33 km) SSE | Metlakatla Seaplane Base (MTM) | Metlakatla, Annette Island, Alaska, United States | |
| 3 | 21.17 miles (34.07 km) S | Annette Island Airport (ANN) | Annette Island, Alaska, United States | |
| 4 | 38.99 miles (62.75 km) WNW | Hollis Clark Bay Seaplane Base (HYL) | Hollis, Alaska, United States | |
| 5 | 41.60 miles (66.95 km) NW | Thorne Bay Seaplane Base (KTB) | Thorne Bay, Alaska, United States | |
| 6 | 46.83 miles (75.37 km) WSW | Hydaburg Seaplane Base (HYG) | Hydaburg, Alaska, United States | |
| 7 | 57.67 miles (92.81 km) WNW | Klawock Airport (KLW) | Klawock, Alaska, United States | |
| 8 | 58.96 miles (94.89 km) W | Craig Seaplane Base (CGA) | Craig, Alaska, United States | |
| 9 | 62.20 miles (100.10 km) W | Waterfall Seaplane Base (KWF) | Waterfall, Alaska, United States | |
| 10 | 64.99 miles (104.59 km) NW | Coffman Cove Seaplane Base (KCC) | Coffman Cove, Alaska, United States | |
| 11 | 70.35 miles (113.21 km) WNW | Naukati Bay Seaplane Base (WNC) | Tuxekan Island, Alaska, United States | |
| 12 | 75.28 miles (121.16 km) ENE | Hyder Seaplane Base (WHD) | Hyder, Alaska, United States | |
| 13 | 76.71 miles (123.45 km) WNW | Tokeen Seaplane Base (TKI) | Tokeen, Alaska, United States | |
| 14 | 77.12 miles (124.11 km) ENE | Stewart Aerodrome (ZST) | Stewart, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 15 | 77.87 miles (125.32 km) NW | North Whale Seaplane Base (WWP) | North Whale Pass, Alaska, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,612.68 miles (17,079.40 km) SE | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 2 | 10,605.64 miles (17,068.08 km) SE | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 3 | 10,603.78 miles (17,065.09 km) SE | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 4 | 10,534.24 miles (16,953.17 km) SE | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 5 | 10,529.75 miles (16,945.95 km) SE | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 6 | 10,510.26 miles (16,914.58 km) SE | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 7 | 10,466.55 miles (16,844.24 km) SSE | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 8 | 10,453.19 miles (16,822.74 km) SE | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 9 | 10,429.83 miles (16,785.15 km) SSE | Richards Bay Airport (RCB) | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 10 | 10,429.12 miles (16,784.01 km) SE | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 11 | 10,413.46 miles (16,758.79 km) SE | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 12 | 10,411.58 miles (16,755.77 km) SE | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 13 | 10,400.05 miles (16,737.21 km) SE | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 14 | 10,389.23 miles (16,719.80 km) SE | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 10,388.48 miles (16,718.60 km) ESE | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Cape Town, South Africa | |