Des Moines (DSM) to Chicago (MDW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Des Moines (DSM) to Chicago (MDW) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 290 departures over the past year, roughly 6 a week — so treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. Of the flights that did operate, 80% arrived on time.
- On-time
- 80%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.7%
- Flights/day
- 0.79
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 20m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 306 mi
Best time to fly from DSM to MDW
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (89% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (66%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 73% | 29 min |
| Tuesday | 83% | 9 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 88% | 15 min |
| Thursday | 72% | 26 min |
| Friday | 86% | 4 min |
| Saturday | 79% | 8 min |
| Sunday | 81% | 10 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 operations49%
- National airspace system30%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DSM to MDW delayed?
- 20% of DSM–MDW 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 14 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DSM to MDW?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (89% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (66%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DSM to MDW?
- The scheduled DSM–MDW flight time averages 1h 20m over 306 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 20% of the time.
- How often are DSM to MDW flights cancelled?
- 1.7% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What day of the week is most reliable for DSM to MDW?
- Wednesday flights have the best record at 88% on-time. Day-of-week differences on this route are meaningful — Thursday trails at 72%.
Explore related pages
More routes from DSM
Other ways to fly to Chicago (MDW)
Related guides
Based on 290 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.