Nonstop flight route between Des Moines, Iowa, United States and British Columbia, Canada:
Departure Airport:
(41°32'2"N by 93°39'47"W)
Arrival Airport:
(50°34'55"N by 126°54'56"W)
Distance from DSM to YAL:
1,695.00 miles (2,727.84 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- DSM Airport Information
- YAL Airport Information
- Facts about DSM
- Facts about YAL
- 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 YAL
- List of Nearest Airports to YAL
- Map of Furthest Airports from YAL
- List of Furthest Airports from YAL
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Des Moines, Iowa, United States and Alert Bay Airport (YAL), British Columbia, Canada would travel a Great Circle distance of 1,695 miles (or 2,728 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 Alert Bay Airport, 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: | YAL / CYAL |
| Airport Name: | Alert Bay Airport |
| Location: | British Columbia, Canada |
| GPS Coordinates: | 50°34'55"N by 126°54'56"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Corporation of Village of Alert Bay |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 240 feet (73 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from YAL |
| More Information: | YAL 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 closest airport to Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is Ankeny Regional Airport (IKV), which is located only 12 miles (19 kilometers) NNE of DSM.
- Interior renovation work began in 2009 on the airport and concluded in 2010.
- Des Moines International Airport (DSM) has 2 runways.
- During the 1920s the Des Moines area had several small private airports for general aviation and airmail.
- 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.
- Des Moines International Airport covers 2,625 acres at an elevation of 958 feet above mean sea level.
- 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.
Facts about Alert Bay Airport (YAL):
- The furthest airport from Alert Bay Airport (YAL) is East London Airport (ELS), which is located 10,675 miles (17,179 kilometers) away in East London, South Africa.
- The closest airport to Alert Bay Airport (YAL) is Port McNeill Airport (YMP), which is located only 5 miles (8 kilometers) W of YAL.
- Alert Bay Airport (YAL) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of Alert Bay Airport's relatively low elevation of 240 feet, planes can take off or land at Alert Bay 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.
| 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 | 4.98 miles (8.02 km) W | Port McNeill Airport (YMP) | Port McNeill, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 2 | 19.53 miles (31.43 km) WNW | Port Hardy Airport (YZT) | Port Hardy, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 3 | 46.96 miles (75.58 km) SSE | Tahsis Water Aerodrome (ZTS) | Tahsis, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 4 | 79.36 miles (127.72 km) E | Big Bay Water Aerodrome (YRR) | Stuart Island, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 5 | 82.17 miles (132.24 km) ESE | Campbell River Water Aerodrome (YHH) | Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 6 | 84.61 miles (136.16 km) ESE | Campbell River Airport (YBL) | Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 7 | 93.56 miles (150.58 km) ESE | Cortes Island Aerodrome (YCF) | Cortes Island, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 8 | 105.95 miles (170.52 km) SE | Courtenay Airpark (YCA) | Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 9 | 108.14 miles (174.03 km) ESE | CFB Comox (YQQ) | Comox, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 10 | 108.28 miles (174.26 km) SSE | Tofino Harbour Water Aerodrome (YTP) | Tofino, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 11 | 115.48 miles (185.85 km) SSE | Tofino/Long Beach Airport (YAZ) | Tofino, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 12 | 118.64 miles (190.94 km) ESE | Powell River Airport (YPW) | Powell River, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 13 | 119.45 miles (192.24 km) NNW | Bella Bella/Shearwater Water Aerodrome (YSX) | Bella Bella, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 14 | 122.63 miles (197.35 km) ESE | Texada/Gillies Bay Airport (YGB) | Texada Island, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 15 | 122.99 miles (197.93 km) NNW | Bella Bella (Campbell Island) Airport (ZEL) | Bella Bella, British Columbia, Canada | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,674.66 miles (17,179.15 km) SE | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 2 | 10,667.49 miles (17,167.61 km) ESE | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 3 | 10,641.92 miles (17,126.46 km) SSE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 4 | 10,641.89 miles (17,126.41 km) SE | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 5 | 10,641.82 miles (17,126.31 km) ESE | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 6 | 10,623.76 miles (17,097.25 km) SE | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 7 | 10,594.79 miles (17,050.61 km) SE | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 8 | 10,593.78 miles (17,048.99 km) SSE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 10,573.73 miles (17,016.73 km) SE | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 10 | 10,573.53 miles (17,016.41 km) SE | Richards Bay Airport (RCB) | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 11 | 10,535.06 miles (16,954.49 km) SE | Hluhluwe Airport (HLW) | Hluhluwe, South Africa | |
| 12 | 10,529.91 miles (16,946.20 km) SE | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 13 | 10,516.65 miles (16,924.87 km) ESE | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 14 | 10,512.05 miles (16,917.46 km) SE | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 10,509.05 miles (16,912.63 km) SE | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |