Philadelphia (PHL) to Des Moines (DSM): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Philadelphia (PHL) to Des Moines (DSM) 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, 74% arrived on time. Cancellations are the bigger caveat: 3.1% of scheduled flights never departed.
- On-time
- 74%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 28 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.1%
- Flights/day
- 0.88
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 58m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 973 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from PHL to DSM
Aim for departures around 10 a.m. (85% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (63%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 70% | 40 min |
| Tuesday | 81% | 12 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 83% | 18 min |
| Thursday | 72% | 47 min |
| Friday | 74% | 28 min |
| Saturday | 71% | 21 min |
| Sunday | 68% | 25 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft43%
- Airline operations31%
- National airspace system20%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from PHL to DSM delayed?
- 26% of PHL–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 28 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from PHL to DSM?
- Departures around 10 a.m. have the best record (85% 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 PHL to DSM?
- The scheduled PHL–DSM flight time averages 2h 58m over 973 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 26% of the time.
- How often are PHL to DSM 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 PHL to DSM?
- Wednesday flights have the best record at 83% on-time. Day-of-week differences on this route are meaningful — Sunday trails at 68%.
Explore related pages
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Other ways to fly to Des Moines (DSM)
Related guides
Based on 323 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.