FlightRecord

Des Moines (DSM) to Minneapolis (MSP): On-Time Performance

Data through May 2026

Des Moines (DSM) to Minneapolis (MSP) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 38 departures over the past year, roughly 1 a week — so treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. Of the flights that did operate, 78% arrived on time.

On-time
78%
arrived <15 min late
Avg delay
15 min
completed flights
Cancelled
1.3%
Flights/day
0.10
last 12 months
Duration
1h 17m
scheduled
Distance
232 mi

Monthly on-time trend

Monthly on-time percentage for DSM to MSP flights50%75%100%June 2024: 54% on-time (84 flights)54Jun 2024July 2024: 61% on-time (85 flights)61August 2024: 69% on-time (85 flights)69September 2024: 88% on-time (81 flights)88Sep 2024October 2024: 96% on-time (84 flights)96November 2024: 93% on-time (83 flights)93December 2024: 83% on-time (88 flights)83Dec 2024June 2025: 0% on-time (1 flights)0August 2025: 86% on-time (21 flights)86September 2025: 86% on-time (14 flights)86Sep 2025October 2025: 100% on-time (1 flights)100November 2025: no data (1 flights)

Best time to fly from DSM to MSP

Aim for departures around 12 p.m. (84% on-time); avoid 11 a.m. departures (75%).

On-time percentage by scheduled departure hour, DSM to MSP7 a.m.: 80% on-time (201 flights)711 a.m.: 75% on-time (91 flights)1112 p.m.: 84% on-time (70 flights)122 p.m.: 78% on-time (27 flights)144 p.m.: 76% on-time (41 flights)165 p.m.: 76% on-time (141 flights)176 p.m.: 57% on-time (24 flights)18scheduled departure hour

By day of week

DayOn-timeAvg delay
Monday80%17 min
Tuesday81%14 min
Wednesdaybest86%7 min
Thursday63%24 min
Friday72%20 min
Saturday80%17 min
Sunday85%7 min

What causes delays on this route

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

  • Late-arriving aircraft23%
  • Airline operations36%
  • National airspace system36%
  • Weather5%

Frequently asked questions

How often are flights from DSM to MSP delayed?
22% of DSM–MSP 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 15 minutes.
What is the best time of day to fly from DSM to MSP?
Departures around 12 p.m. have the best record (84% on-time), while departures around 11 a.m. have the worst (75%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
How long is the flight from DSM to MSP?
The scheduled DSM–MSP flight time averages 1h 17m over 232 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
How often are DSM to MSP flights cancelled?
1.3% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
What day of the week is most reliable for DSM to MSP?
Wednesday flights have the best record at 86% on-time. Day-of-week differences on this route are meaningful — Thursday trails at 63%.

Based on 628 flights, 2024-062026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.