FlightRecord

New York (LGA) to Des Moines (DSM): On-Time Performance

Data through May 2026

New York (LGA) to Des Moines (DSM) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 261 departures over the past year, roughly 5 a week — so treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. Of the flights that did operate, 76% arrived on time. Cancellations are the bigger caveat: 4% of scheduled flights never departed.

On-time
76%
arrived <15 min late
Avg delay
20 min
completed flights
Cancelled
4.0%
Flights/day
0.72
last 12 months
Duration
3h 11m
scheduled
Distance
1,031 mi

Best airline from LGA to DSM

2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.

AirlineOn-timeAvg delayCancelledFlights
Endeavor Airmost reliable82%18 min3.7%354
Republic Airways72%20 min4.2%601

Monthly on-time trend

Monthly on-time percentage for LGA to DSM flights50%75%100%June 2024: 75% on-time (76 flights)75Jun 2024July 2024: 67% on-time (75 flights)67August 2024: 72% on-time (79 flights)72September 2024: 96% on-time (80 flights)96Sep 2024October 2024: 92% on-time (82 flights)92November 2024: 90% on-time (79 flights)90December 2024: 79% on-time (76 flights)79Dec 2024January 2025: 81% on-time (31 flights)81February 2025: 85% on-time (28 flights)85March 2025: 83% on-time (31 flights)83Mar 2025April 2025: 63% on-time (30 flights)63May 2025: 59% on-time (27 flights)59June 2025: 44% on-time (27 flights)44Jun 2025July 2025: 53% on-time (27 flights)53August 2025: 81% on-time (26 flights)81September 2025: 71% on-time (22 flights)71Sep 2025October 2025: 59% on-time (22 flights)59November 2025: 45% on-time (20 flights)45December 2025: 42% on-time (12 flights)42Dec 2025January 2026: 59% on-time (18 flights)59February 2026: 94% on-time (20 flights)94March 2026: 57% on-time (23 flights)57Mar 2026April 2026: 73% on-time (22 flights)73May 2026: 68% on-time (22 flights)68

Best time to fly from LGA to DSM

Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (63%).

On-time percentage by scheduled departure hour, LGA to DSM9 a.m.: 94% on-time (68 flights)910 a.m.: 93% on-time (30 flights)1011 a.m.: 74% on-time (60 flights)114 p.m.: 70% on-time (47 flights)165 p.m.: 74% on-time (654 flights)177 p.m.: 63% on-time (45 flights)19scheduled departure hour

By day of week

DayOn-timeAvg delay
Monday73%17 min
Tuesday83%13 min
Wednesday78%19 min
Thursday73%15 min
Friday68%40 min
Saturdaybest90%21 min
Sunday70%18 min

What causes delays on this route

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

  • Late-arriving aircraft42%
  • Airline operations12%
  • National airspace system35%
  • Weather12%

Frequently asked questions

How often are flights from LGA to DSM delayed?
24% of LGA–DSM 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 20 minutes.
Which airline is most reliable from LGA to DSM?
Endeavor Air has the best on-time record on this route at 82%, based on 354 flights. 2 airlines flew LGA–DSM frequently enough to compare in this period.
What is the best time of day to fly from LGA to DSM?
Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 7 p.m. have the worst (63%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
How long is the flight from LGA to DSM?
The scheduled LGA–DSM flight time averages 3h 11m over 1,031 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 24% of the time.
How often are LGA to DSM flights cancelled?
4% 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 is the worst month to fly from LGA to DSM?
June 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 44% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 96%. If your dates are flexible, that 52-point gap is worth planning around.

Based on 955 flights, 2024-062026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.