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YQT to DSM: distance & flight time
Thunder Bay (Thunder Bay Airport) → Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport)
518 mi
833 km · 450 nm
1h 36m
estimated nonstop flight time
-1h
time difference · heading southwest
See live YQT→DSM fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
518 miles nonstop takes roughly 1h 36m gate to gate, flying southwest. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 1-hour time set-back when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- YQT — Thunder Bay Airport · Thunder Bay, Canada
- DSM — Des Moines International Airport · Des Moines, United States
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 YQT
- GRM · Grand Marais Cook County Airport61 mi away
- CMX · Houghton County Memorial Airport92 mi away
- YIB · Atikokan Municipal Airport109 mi away
- LYU · Ely Municipal Airport122 mi away
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
Frequently asked questions
How far is YQT from DSM?
The flight distance from Thunder Bay (YQT) to Des Moines (DSM) is 518 miles (833 km, 450 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from YQT to DSM?
A nonstop flight takes about 1h 36m 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 YQT to DSM?
Nonstop service on YQT–DSM 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 1h 36m nonstop estimate.
What is the time difference between Thunder Bay and Des Moines?
Des Moines is 1 hour behind Thunder Bay.
What is the cheapest way to fly from YQT to DSM?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on YQT–DSM that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some YQT to DSM fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain YQT–DSM 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.