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DSM to SYM: distance & flight time
Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport) → Simao (Pu'er Simao Airport)
7,895 mi
12,705 km · 6,860 nm
15h 57m
estimated nonstop flight time
+13h
time difference · heading north
See live DSM→SYM fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
7,895 miles nonstop takes roughly 15h 57m gate to gate, flying north. 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
- SYM — Pu'er Simao Airport · Simao, 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 SYM
- JHG · Xishuangbanna Gasa Airport58 mi away
- JMJ · Lancang Jingmai Airport79 mi away
- LNJ · Lintsang Airfield88 mi away
- PCQ · Boun Neau Airport99 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is DSM from SYM?
The flight distance from Des Moines (DSM) to Simao (SYM) is 7,895 miles (12,705 km, 6,860 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from DSM to SYM?
A nonstop flight takes about 15h 57m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
Are there nonstop flights from DSM to SYM?
Nonstop service on DSM–SYM depends on the season and the day of week. Run the fare search on this page with the nonstop filter applied to see current direct options; when there is no nonstop, a single connection through a carrier hub adds roughly 2–4 hours to the 15h 57m nonstop estimate.
What is the time difference between Des Moines and Simao?
Simao is 13 hours ahead of Des Moines.
What is the cheapest way to fly from DSM to SYM?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on DSM–SYM that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some DSM to SYM fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain DSM–SYM tickets below the price airlines permit us to publish online, so those fares can only be quoted over the phone. Call the travel desk and an agent will check phone-only inventory for your dates.