Nonstop flight route between Prestwick (near Glasgow), Scotland, United Kingdom and Des Moines, Iowa, United States:
Departure Airport:
(55°30'33"N by 4°35'39"W)
Arrival Airport:
(41°32'2"N by 93°39'47"W)
Distance from PIK to DSM:
3,896.82 miles (6,271.32 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- PIK Airport Information
- DSM Airport Information
- Facts about PIK
- Facts about DSM
- Map of Nearest Airports to PIK
- List of Nearest Airports to PIK
- Map of Furthest Airports from PIK
- List of Furthest Airports from PIK
- 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 Glasgow-Prestwick Airport (PIK), Prestwick (near Glasgow), Scotland, United Kingdom and Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Des Moines, Iowa, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,897 miles (or 6,271 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 Glasgow-Prestwick 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 Glasgow-Prestwick 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: | PIK / EGPK |
| Airport Name: | Glasgow-Prestwick Airport |
| Location: | Prestwick (near Glasgow), Scotland, United Kingdom |
| GPS Coordinates: | 55°30'33"N by 4°35'39"W |
| Area Served: | Glasgow, Prestwick, Strathclyde, Scotland |
| Operator/Owner: | Scottish Government |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 65 feet (20 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PIK |
| More Information: | PIK 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 Glasgow-Prestwick Airport (PIK):
- In 1991 the newly privatised British Airports Authority, BAA Limited, consolidated their portfolio of UK airports.
- On 8 March 2012 the airport owner Infratil announced that they had placed the airfield up for sale.
- Glasgow-Prestwick Airport handled 1,145,836 passengers last year.
- The furthest airport from Glasgow-Prestwick Airport (PIK) is Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS), which is located 11,764 miles (18,932 kilometers) away in Stewart Island, New Zealand.
- Glasgow-Prestwick Airport (PIK) has 2 runways.
- The closest airport to Glasgow-Prestwick Airport (PIK) is Glasgow International Airport (GLA), which is located 26 miles (42 kilometers) NNE of PIK.
- Because of Glasgow-Prestwick Airport's relatively low elevation of 65 feet, planes can take off or land at Glasgow-Prestwick 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.
- Glasgow Prestwick Airport is considered to be the only piece of United Kingdom territory on which Elvis Presley ever set foot, when the United States Army transport plane carrying him home stopped to refuel in 1960, en route from Germany.
- The United States Air Force operated a base in 1952 on the site of the original airport using former Royal Air Force facilities 1631st Air Base Squadron), and in 1953 on the Monkton side of the airport, both used by the USAF MATS.
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.
- Des Moines International Airport (DSM) has 2 runways.
- On December 1, 2007, a United Express plane carrying 44 passengers slid off a taxiway while taxiing to the runway for takeoff.
- Des Moines International Airport covers 2,625 acres at an elevation of 958 feet above mean sea level.
- During the 1920s the Des Moines area had several small private airports for general aviation and airmail.
- 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.
- 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 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 is a civil-military public airport three miles southwest of Des Moines, in Polk County, Iowa.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 25.82 miles (41.56 km) NNE | Glasgow International Airport (GLA) | Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom |     |
| 2 | 43.11 miles (69.39 km) W | Campbeltown Airport (CAL) | Campbeltown, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 3 | 56.45 miles (90.85 km) ENE | Edinburgh Airport (EDI) | Edinburgh, United Kingdom | |
| 4 | 66.11 miles (106.39 km) W | Islay Airport (ILY) | Islay, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 5 | 74.41 miles (119.75 km) WNW | Colonsay Airport (CSA) | Colonsay, Inner Hebrides, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 6 | 79.69 miles (128.24 km) SW | George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD) | Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom | |
| 7 | 79.81 miles (128.45 km) NE | Perth Airport (PSL) | Perth, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 8 | 80.69 miles (129.86 km) ESE | Carlisle Lake District Airport (CAX) | Carlisle, England, United Kingdom | |
| 9 | 87.04 miles (140.08 km) SW | Belfast International Airport (BFS) | Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom | |
| 10 | 89.00 miles (143.24 km) NE | Dundee Airport (DND) | Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 11 | 89.55 miles (144.12 km) NE | RAF Leuchars (ADX) | St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 12 | 98.54 miles (158.59 km) S | Isle of Man Airport (IOM) | Ronaldsway, Isle of Man, United Kingdom | |
| 13 | 106.06 miles (170.69 km) WSW | City of Derry Airport (LDY) | Derry, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom | |
| 14 | 108.58 miles (174.74 km) NW | Coll Island Airport (COL) | Coll, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 15 | 109.05 miles (175.50 km) SSE | Barrow/Walney Island Airport (BWF) | Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,763.97 miles (18,932.22 km) SSE | Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS) | Stewart Island, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,737.39 miles (18,889.45 km) SSE | Invercargill Airport (IVC) | Invercargill, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,737.18 miles (18,889.12 km) SSE | Dunedin International Airport (DUD) | Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,684.31 miles (18,804.04 km) SSE | Oamaru Airport (OAM) | Oamaru, North Otago, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,677.93 miles (18,793.76 km) SSE | Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) | Alexandra, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,655.46 miles (18,757.60 km) SSE | Queenstown Airport (ZQN) | Queenstown, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,643.86 miles (18,738.93 km) SSE | Wanaka Airport (WKA) | Wanaka, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,640.83 miles (18,734.06 km) SSE | Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (TIU) | Timaru, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,619.13 miles (18,699.12 km) SSE | Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) | Ashburton, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,619.04 miles (18,698.98 km) SSE | Milford Sound Airport (MFN) | Milford Sound, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,601.77 miles (18,671.19 km) SSE | Glentanner Aerodrome (GTN) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,596.53 miles (18,662.77 km) S | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,592.50 miles (18,656.28 km) SSE | Mount Cook Airport (MON) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,570.67 miles (18,621.14 km) SSE | Fox Glacier Aerodrome (FGL) | Fox Glacier, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,551.71 miles (18,590.63 km) SSW | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 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 | |