Des Moines (DSM) to Phoenix (PHX): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The calendar drives reliability on DSM–PHX. September 2024 flights landed on schedule 96% of the time, but November 2025 dropped to 73% — a gap of 23 points. Across the full period the route averages 84% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 84%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.2%
- Flights/day
- 2.9
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 12m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,149 mi
Best airline from DSM to PHX
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envoy Airmost reliable | 92% | 8 min | 0.7% | 416 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 84% | 15 min | 1.1% | 466 |
| American Airlines | 82% | 31 min | 1.5% | 841 |
| Southwest Airlines | 81% | 13 min | 1.0% | 400 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DSM to PHX
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (97% on-time); avoid 1 p.m. departures (68%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 81% | 16 min |
| Tuesday | 87% | 18 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 87% | 18 min |
| Thursday | 84% | 26 min |
| Friday | 86% | 15 min |
| Saturday | 84% | 21 min |
| Sunday | 81% | 19 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft31%
- Airline operations55%
- National airspace system7%
- Weather5%
- Security3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DSM to PHX delayed?
- 16% of DSM–PHX 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 19 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DSM to PHX?
- Envoy Air has the best on-time record on this route at 92%, based on 416 flights. 4 airlines flew DSM–PHX frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DSM to PHX?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (97% on-time), while departures around 1 p.m. have the worst (68%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DSM to PHX?
- The scheduled DSM–PHX flight time averages 3h 12m over 1,149 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 16% of the time.
- How often are DSM to PHX flights cancelled?
- 1.2% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from DSM to PHX?
- November 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 73% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 96%. If your dates are flexible, that 23-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
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Based on 2,130 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.