Des Moines (DSM) to Denver (DEN): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The calendar drives reliability on DSM–DEN. November 2025 flights landed on schedule 91% of the time, but August 2025 dropped to 74% — a gap of 17 points. Across the full period the route averages 83% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (87% vs 69%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 83%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 15 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.7%
- Flights/day
- 6.4
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 5m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 589 mi
Best airline from DSM to DEN
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkyWest Airlinesmost reliable | 90% | 10 min | 0.7% | 1,589 |
| Southwest Airlines | 83% | 13 min | 0.4% | 1,116 |
| Frontier Airlines | 78% | 21 min | 0.6% | 355 |
| United Airlines | 77% | 20 min | 1.0% | 1,687 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DSM to DEN
Aim for departures around 11 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (50%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 81% | 15 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 84% | 13 min |
| Wednesday | 83% | 12 min |
| Thursday | 82% | 17 min |
| Friday | 82% | 20 min |
| Saturdaybest | 84% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 84% | 14 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft21%
- Airline operations35%
- National airspace system35%
- Weather9%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DSM to DEN delayed?
- 17% of DSM–DEN flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-07 and 2026-07. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 15 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DSM to DEN?
- SkyWest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 90%, based on 1,589 flights. 4 airlines flew DSM–DEN frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DSM to DEN?
- Departures around 11 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (50%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DSM to DEN?
- The scheduled DSM–DEN flight time averages 2h 5m over 589 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 17% of the time.
- How often are DSM to DEN flights cancelled?
- 0.7% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from DSM to DEN?
- August 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 74% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2025 at 91%. If your dates are flexible, that 17-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,747 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.