Nonstop flight route between Nairobi, Kenya and Des Moines, Iowa, United States:
Departure Airport:
(1°19'12"S by 36°48'53"E)
Arrival Airport:
(41°32'2"N by 93°39'47"W)
Distance from WIL to DSM:
8,296.14 miles (13,351.31 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- WIL Airport Information
- DSM Airport Information
- Facts about WIL
- Facts about DSM
- Map of Nearest Airports to WIL
- List of Nearest Airports to WIL
- Map of Furthest Airports from WIL
- List of Furthest Airports from WIL
- 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 Wilson Airport (WIL), Nairobi, Kenya and Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Des Moines, Iowa, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,296 miles (or 13,351 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 Wilson 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 Wilson 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: | WIL / HKNW |
| Airport Name: | Wilson Airport |
| Location: | Nairobi, Kenya |
| GPS Coordinates: | 1°19'12"S by 36°48'53"E |
| Area Served: | Nairobi |
| Operator/Owner: | Kenya Airports Authority |
| Airport Type: | Public, Civilian |
| Elevation: | 5546 feet (1,690 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from WIL |
| More Information: | WIL 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 Wilson Airport (WIL):
- The airport serves domestic and international traffic.
- The closest airport to Wilson Airport (WIL) is Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), which is located only 8 miles (12 kilometers) E of WIL.
- In 2012 Kiss TV did a 15-minute report called dying Wilson.
- Because of Wilson Airport's high elevation of 5,546 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at WIL. Combined with a high temperature, this could make WIL a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- Wilson Airport (WIL) has 2 runways.
- The furthest airport from Wilson Airport (WIL) is Atuona Airport (AUQ), which is located 11,619 miles (18,698 kilometers) away in Atuona, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia.
Facts about Des Moines International Airport (DSM):
- 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.
- 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.
- As of March 2014, Delta Air Lines handled of DSM passengers, followed by United Airlines, American Airlines, US Airways, Southwest Airlines, Allegiant Airlines, and Frontier Airlines.
- 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 December 18, 2010, a small red Beechcraft Bonanza crashed while performing an emergency landing at DSM.
- In 2011, the City of Des Moines transferred control from the city to the Des Moines Airport Authority.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 7.66 miles (12.32 km) E | Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) | Nairobi, Kenya |     |
| 2 | 88.38 miles (142.24 km) N | Nanyuki Airfield (NYK) | Nanyuki, Kenya | |
| 3 | 96.17 miles (154.77 km) SSE | Amboseli Airport (ASV) | Amboseli, Kenya | |
| 4 | 124.82 miles (200.87 km) W | Mara Serena Airport (MRE) | Masai Mara, Kenya | |
| 5 | 126.24 miles (203.17 km) WNW | Kericho Airport (KEY) | Kericho, Kenya | |
| 6 | 138.39 miles (222.72 km) NW | Kimwarer Airport (KRV) | Kerio Valley, Kenya | |
| 7 | 139.54 miles (224.57 km) SE | Kilaguni Airport (ILU) | Kilaguni, Kenya | |
| 8 | 142.04 miles (228.59 km) S | Arusha Airport (ARK) | Arusha, Tanzania | |
| 9 | 145.48 miles (234.12 km) SSE | Moshi Airport (QSI) | Moshi, Tanzania | |
| 10 | 146.84 miles (236.32 km) S | Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) | Kilimanjaro, Tanzania | |
| 11 | 157.83 miles (254.00 km) SSW | Lake Manyara Airport (LKY) | Lake Manyara, Tanzania | |
| 12 | 161.41 miles (259.76 km) NW | Eldoret International Airport (EDL) | Eldoret, Kenya | |
| 13 | 167.45 miles (269.48 km) WNW | Kisumu International Airport (KIS) | Kisumu, Kenya | |
| 14 | 203.88 miles (328.12 km) NW | Kitale Airport (KTL) | Kitale, Kenya | |
| 15 | 204.46 miles (329.05 km) ENE | Garissa Airport (GAS) | Garissa, Kenya | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,618.65 miles (18,698.36 km) SSW | Atuona Airport (AUQ) | Atuona, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 2 | 11,457.44 miles (18,438.92 km) E | Cassidy International Airport (CXI) | Christmas Island, Kiribati | |
| 3 | 11,330.30 miles (18,234.31 km) S | Manihi Airport (XMH) | Manihi, French Polynesia | |
| 4 | 11,328.60 miles (18,231.57 km) S | Ahe Airport (AHE) | Ahe, French Polynesia | |
| 5 | 11,268.35 miles (18,134.60 km) SSE | Arutua Airport (AXR) | Arutua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 6 | 11,256.09 miles (18,114.88 km) SSE | Mataiva Airport (MVT) | Mataiva, French Polynesia | |
| 7 | 11,248.98 miles (18,103.43 km) S | Apataki Airport (APK) | Apataki, French Polynesia | |
| 8 | 11,242.21 miles (18,092.54 km) S | Fangatau Airport (FGU) | Fangatau, French Polynesia | |
| 9 | 11,235.89 miles (18,082.36 km) S | Raroia Airport (RRR) | Raroia, French Polynesia | |
| 10 | 11,224.56 miles (18,064.14 km) S | Fakarava Airport (FAV) | Fakarava, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 11 | 11,199.06 miles (18,023.10 km) S | Makemo Airport (MKP) | Makemo, French Polynesia | |
| 12 | 11,137.20 miles (17,923.55 km) S | Anaa Airport (AAA) | Anaa, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 13 | 11,088.13 miles (17,844.57 km) S | Hao Airport (HOI) | Hao, Tuamotu Island, French Polynesia | |
| 14 | 11,082.76 miles (17,835.94 km) SSE | Huahine – Fare Airport (HUH) | Huahine, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 15 | 11,077.46 miles (17,827.40 km) SSE | Bora Bora Airport (BOB) | Bora Bora, French Polynesia | |
| 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 | |