FlightRecord

Des Moines (DSM) to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW): On-Time Performance

Data through May 2026

The biggest risk when flying DSM to DFW 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, 72% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Envoy Air has been the safer pick, arriving on time 82% of the time.

On-time
72%
arrived <15 min late
Avg delay
27 min
completed flights
Cancelled
3.2%
Flights/day
3.9
last 12 months
Duration
2h 9m
scheduled
Distance
624 mi

Best airline from DSM to DFW

3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.

AirlineOn-timeAvg delayCancelledFlights
Envoy Airmost reliable82%13 min1.8%611
PSA Airlines74%25 min4.9%182
American Airlines69%32 min3.5%1,894

Monthly on-time trend

Monthly on-time percentage for DSM to DFW flights50%75%100%June 2024: 65% on-time (116 flights)65Jun 2024July 2024: 51% on-time (121 flights)51August 2024: 59% on-time (117 flights)59September 2024: 87% on-time (97 flights)87Sep 2024October 2024: 84% on-time (113 flights)84November 2024: 77% on-time (107 flights)77December 2024: 76% on-time (95 flights)76Dec 2024January 2025: 78% on-time (104 flights)78February 2025: 77% on-time (89 flights)77March 2025: 80% on-time (118 flights)80Mar 2025April 2025: 71% on-time (94 flights)71May 2025: 67% on-time (93 flights)67June 2025: 67% on-time (116 flights)67Jun 2025July 2025: 61% on-time (118 flights)61August 2025: 72% on-time (118 flights)72September 2025: 71% on-time (119 flights)71Sep 2025October 2025: 73% on-time (121 flights)73November 2025: 66% on-time (116 flights)66December 2025: 64% on-time (122 flights)64Dec 2025January 2026: 77% on-time (123 flights)77February 2026: 77% on-time (113 flights)77March 2026: 79% on-time (123 flights)79Mar 2026April 2026: 81% on-time (121 flights)81May 2026: 82% on-time (123 flights)82

Best time to fly from DSM to DFW

Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (84% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (52%).

On-time percentage by scheduled departure hour, DSM to DFW5 a.m.: 81% on-time (730 flights)57 a.m.: 70% on-time (30 flights)79 a.m.: 84% on-time (322 flights)911 a.m.: 75% on-time (181 flights)1112 p.m.: 78% on-time (119 flights)121 p.m.: 70% on-time (111 flights)133 p.m.: 64% on-time (421 flights)154 p.m.: 52% on-time (108 flights)165 p.m.: 66% on-time (285 flights)176 p.m.: 74% on-time (100 flights)187 p.m.: 57% on-time (284 flights)19scheduled departure hour

By day of week

DayOn-timeAvg delay
Monday69%27 min
Tuesdaybest80%17 min
Wednesday70%32 min
Thursday72%30 min
Friday74%24 min
Saturday68%34 min
Sunday73%27 min

What causes delays on this route

Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.

  • Late-arriving aircraft65%
  • Airline operations17%
  • National airspace system9%
  • Weather9%

Frequently asked questions

How often are flights from DSM to DFW delayed?
28% of DSM–DFW 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 27 minutes.
Which airline is most reliable from DSM to DFW?
Envoy Air has the best on-time record on this route at 82%, based on 611 flights. 3 airlines flew DSM–DFW frequently enough to compare in this period.
What is the best time of day to fly from DSM to DFW?
Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (84% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (52%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
How long is the flight from DSM to DFW?
The scheduled DSM–DFW flight time averages 2h 9m over 624 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 28% of the time.
How often are DSM to DFW 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 DSM to DFW?
July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 51% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 36-point gap is worth planning around.

Based on 2,697 flights, 2024-062026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.