Nonstop flight route between Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and Des Moines, Iowa, United States:
Departure Airport:

Arrival Airport:

Distance from YVR to DSM:
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- About this route
- YVR Airport Information
- DSM Airport Information
- Facts about YVR
- Facts about DSM
- Map of Nearest Airports to YVR
- List of Nearest Airports to YVR
- Map of Furthest Airports from YVR
- List of Furthest Airports from YVR
- 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 Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Des Moines, Iowa, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 1,516 miles (or 2,440 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 relatively short distance between Vancouver International Airport and Des Moines International Airport, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
Departure Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | YVR / CYVR |
Airport Name: | Vancouver International Airport |
Location: | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
GPS Coordinates: | 49°11'40"N by 123°11'2"W |
Area Served: | Metro Vancouver |
Operator/Owner: | Transport Canada |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 14 feet (4 meters) |
# of Runways: | 3 |
View all routes: | Routes from YVR |
More Information: | YVR 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 Vancouver International Airport (YVR):
- Low resistance carpeting and other materials such as laminate flooring have been utilized throughout the airport to make it easier for people using wheelchairs and walkers to move throughout the airport.
- Because of Vancouver International Airport's relatively low elevation of 14 feet, planes can take off or land at Vancouver 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.
- Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has 3 runways.
- Vancouver International Airport is owned by Transport Canada and is managed by Vancouver Airport Authority, which also manages other airports around the world through its Vancouver Airport Services subsidiary.
- YVR recently completed a $1.4-billion multi-year capital development plan, which included a four-gate expansion to the International Terminal Wing, completed in June 2007.
- The South Terminal houses the corporate headquarters of Pacific Coastal Airlines.
- The furthest airport from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 10,685 miles (17,196 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- Vancouver International Airport is located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, about 12 km from Downtown Vancouver.
- Vancouver International Airport is well regarded as one of the most accessible airports in the world.
- The closest airport to Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is Vancouver Harbour Water Airport (CXH), which is located only 8 miles (12 kilometers) NNE of YVR.
Facts about Des Moines International Airport (DSM):
- 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.
- In 2011, the City of Des Moines transferred control from the city to the Des Moines Airport Authority.
- On December 18, 2010, a small red Beechcraft Bonanza crashed while performing an emergency landing at DSM.
- 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.
- 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 airport hosts the Des Moines Air National Guard Base and 132d Fighter Wing of the Iowa Air National Guard.
- 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 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.