Los Angeles (LAX) to Des Moines (DSM): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Los Angeles (LAX) to Des Moines (DSM) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 300 departures over the past year, roughly 6 a week — so treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. Of the flights that did operate, 86% arrived on time, comfortably above the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 86%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 9 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Flights/day
- 0.82
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 35m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,447 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from LAX to DSM
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 12 p.m. departures (77%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 86% | 8 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 91% | 8 min |
| Wednesday | 86% | 6 min |
| Thursday | 84% | 8 min |
| Friday | 76% | 12 min |
| Saturday | 91% | 13 min |
| Sunday | 88% | 4 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft36%
- Airline operations27%
- National airspace system29%
- Weather8%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from LAX to DSM delayed?
- 14% of LAX–DSM 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 9 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from LAX to DSM?
- Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 12 p.m. have the worst (77%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from LAX to DSM?
- The scheduled LAX–DSM flight time averages 3h 35m over 1,447 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 14% of the time.
- How often are LAX to DSM flights cancelled?
- 0% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What day of the week is most reliable for LAX to DSM?
- Tuesday flights have the best record at 91% on-time. Day-of-week differences on this route are meaningful — Friday trails at 76%.
Explore related pages
More routes from LAX
Other ways to fly to Des Moines (DSM)
Related guides
Based on 314 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.