Des Moines (DSM) to Philadelphia (PHL): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Des Moines (DSM) to Philadelphia (PHL) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 323 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. Cancellations are the bigger caveat: 3.1% of scheduled flights never departed.
- On-time
- 80%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 22 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.1%
- Flights/day
- 0.88
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 37m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 973 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DSM to PHL
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (86% on-time); avoid 12 p.m. departures (74%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 84% | 44 min |
| Tuesday | 79% | 14 min |
| Wednesday | 81% | 14 min |
| Thursday | 72% | 28 min |
| Fridaybest | 84% | 18 min |
| Saturday | 80% | 23 min |
| Sunday | 81% | 11 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft29%
- Airline operations48%
- National airspace system10%
- Weather13%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DSM to PHL delayed?
- 20% of DSM–PHL 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 22 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DSM to PHL?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (86% on-time), while departures around 12 p.m. have the worst (74%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DSM to PHL?
- The scheduled DSM–PHL flight time averages 2h 37m over 973 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 20% of the time.
- How often are DSM to PHL flights cancelled?
- 3.1% 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 day of the week is most reliable for DSM to PHL?
- Friday flights have the best record at 84% on-time. Day-of-week differences on this route are meaningful — Thursday trails at 72%.
Explore related pages
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Based on 323 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.