Chicago (MDW) to Des Moines (DSM): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Chicago (MDW) to Des Moines (DSM) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 290 departures over the past year, roughly 6 a week — so treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. Of the flights that did operate, 72% arrived on time, noticeably below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 72%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.4%
- Flights/day
- 0.79
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 24m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 306 mi
Best time to fly from MDW to DSM
Aim for departures around 10 a.m. (88% on-time); avoid 10 p.m. departures (42%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 76% | 17 min |
| Tuesday | 74% | 14 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 81% | 13 min |
| Thursday | 62% | 25 min |
| Friday | 64% | 32 min |
| Saturday | 79% | 13 min |
| Sunday | 68% | 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 aircraft55%
- Airline operations30%
- National airspace system7%
- Weather8%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MDW to DSM delayed?
- 28% of MDW–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 19 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MDW to DSM?
- Departures around 10 a.m. have the best record (88% on-time), while departures around 10 p.m. have the worst (42%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MDW to DSM?
- The scheduled MDW–DSM flight time averages 1h 24m over 306 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 28% of the time.
- How often are MDW to DSM flights cancelled?
- 1.4% 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 MDW to DSM?
- Wednesday flights have the best record at 81% on-time. Day-of-week differences on this route are meaningful — Thursday trails at 62%.
Explore related pages
More routes from MDW
Other ways to fly to Des Moines (DSM)
Related guides
Based on 290 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.