Nonstop flight route between Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Des Moines, Iowa, United States:
Departure Airport:

Arrival Airport:

Distance from FBM to DSM:
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- FBM Airport Information
- DSM Airport Information
- Facts about FBM
- Facts about DSM
- Map of Nearest Airports to FBM
- List of Nearest Airports to FBM
- Map of Furthest Airports from FBM
- List of Furthest Airports from FBM
- Map of Nearest Airports to DSM
- List of Nearest Airports to DSM
- Map of Furthest Airports from DSM
- List of Furthest Airports from DSM
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Lubumbashi International Airport (FBM), Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Des Moines, Iowa, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,351 miles (or 13,440 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 Lubumbashi International Airport and Des Moines International 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 Lubumbashi International Airport and Des Moines International Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | FBM / FZQA |
Airport Name: | Lubumbashi International Airport |
Location: | Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo |
GPS Coordinates: | 11°35'28"S by 27°31'51"E |
Area Served: | Lubumbashi |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 4295 feet (1,309 meters) |
# of Runways: | 1 |
View all routes: | Routes from FBM |
More Information: | FBM Maps & Info |
Arrival 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 |
Facts about Lubumbashi International Airport (FBM):
- This airport played a high-profile role during the Katanga war.
- Because of Lubumbashi International Airport's high elevation of 4,295 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at FBM. Combined with a high temperature, this could make FBM a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- The furthest airport from Lubumbashi International Airport (FBM) is Hilo International Airport (ITO), which is located 11,850 miles (19,070 kilometers) away in Hilo, Hawaii, United States.
- Lubumbashi International Airport (FBM) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Lubumbashi International Airport (FBM) is Kasompe Airport (CGJ), which is located 72 miles (116 kilometers) SSE of FBM.
- Lubumbashi International Airport is an airport in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Facts about Des Moines International Airport (DSM):
- The airport hosts the Des Moines Air National Guard Base and 132d Fighter Wing of the Iowa Air National Guard.
- 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.
- 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.
- Des Moines International Airport (DSM) has 2 runways.
- The Des Moines Terminal has 2 concourses.