Sanford (SFB) to Des Moines (DSM): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Sanford (SFB) to Des Moines (DSM) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 212 departures over the past year, roughly 4 a week — so treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. Of the flights that did operate, 79% arrived on time.
- On-time
- 79%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 20 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.3%
- Flights/day
- 0.58
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 2m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,124 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SFB to DSM
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (91% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (58%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 80% | 12 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 90% | 10 min |
| Wednesday | 87% | 7 min |
| Thursday | 62% | 100 min |
| Friday | 80% | 14 min |
| Saturday | 71% | 25 min |
| Sunday | 69% | 79 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft29%
- Airline operations14%
- National airspace system26%
- Weather31%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SFB to DSM delayed?
- 21% of SFB–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.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SFB to DSM?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (91% on-time), while departures around 7 p.m. have the worst (58%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SFB to DSM?
- The scheduled SFB–DSM flight time averages 3h 2m over 1,124 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 21% of the time.
- How often are SFB to DSM flights cancelled?
- 1.3% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
Explore related pages
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Related guides
Based on 392 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.