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DSM to SHA: distance & flight time
Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport) → Shanghai (Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport)
6,939 mi
11,167 km · 6,030 nm
14h 4m
estimated nonstop flight time
+13h
time difference · heading northwest
See live DSM→SHA fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
6,939 miles nonstop takes roughly 14h 4m gate to gate, flying northwest. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 13-hour time gain when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- DSM — Des Moines International Airport · Des Moines, United States
- SHA — Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport · Shanghai, China
Distances are great-circle ("as the crow flies") — the same basis airlines use for frequent-flyer miles.
Alternate airports can cut this fare
Flying from or into a nearby airport is the #1 trick our agents use to beat online prices. Call and we'll compare every combination on one call.
Near DSM
- OTM · Ottumwa Regional Airport70 mi away
- FOD · Fort Dodge Regional Airport75 mi away
- ALO · Waterloo Regional Airport96 mi away
- CID · The Eastern Iowa Airport104 mi away
Near SHA
- PVG · Shanghai Pudong International Airport28 mi away
- SZV · Suzhou Guangfu Airport55 mi away
- WUX · Sunan Shuofang International Airport57 mi away
- HGH · Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport86 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is DSM from SHA?
The flight distance from Des Moines (DSM) to Shanghai (SHA) is 6,939 miles (11,167 km, 6,030 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from DSM to SHA?
A nonstop flight takes about 14h 4m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
What is the time difference between Des Moines and Shanghai?
Shanghai is 13 hours ahead of Des Moines.
What is the cheapest way to fly from DSM to SHA?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on DSM–SHA that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.