Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Des Moines (DSM): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The biggest risk when flying DFW to DSM isn't a late arrival — it's not departing at all. 3.2% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled, several times the typical US rate. When flights do go, 67% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Envoy Air has been the safer pick, arriving on time 86% of the time.
- On-time
- 67%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 29 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.2%
- Flights/day
- 3.9
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 56m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 624 mi
Best airline from DFW to DSM
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envoy Airmost reliable | 86% | 8 min | 1.8% | 610 |
| PSA Airlines | 81% | 15 min | 3.3% | 182 |
| American Airlines | 60% | 37 min | 3.6% | 1,894 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DFW to DSM
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 10 p.m. departures (48%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 63% | 29 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 73% | 23 min |
| Wednesday | 67% | 26 min |
| Thursday | 64% | 38 min |
| Friday | 71% | 22 min |
| Saturday | 65% | 34 min |
| Sunday | 69% | 30 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft59%
- Airline operations28%
- National airspace system7%
- Weather5%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DFW to DSM delayed?
- 33% of DFW–DSM flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 29 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DFW to DSM?
- Envoy Air has the best on-time record on this route at 86%, based on 610 flights. 3 airlines flew DFW–DSM frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DFW to DSM?
- Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 10 p.m. have the worst (48%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DFW to DSM?
- The scheduled DFW–DSM flight time averages 1h 56m over 624 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 33% of the time.
- How often are DFW to DSM flights cancelled?
- 3.2% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05 — several times the typical US rate, so consider earlier departures or backup options.
- What is the worst month to fly from DFW to DSM?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 45% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 81%. If your dates are flexible, that 36-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,696 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.