Sanford (SFB) to Des Moines (DSM): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Sanford (SFB) to Des Moines (DSM) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 205 departures over the past year, roughly 4 a week — so treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. Of the flights that did operate, 78% arrived on time.
- On-time
- 78%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 21 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.2%
- Flights/day
- 0.56
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 1m
- 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 2 p.m. departures (65%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 82% | 11 min |
| Tuesday | 64% | 30 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 86% | 8 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 60 min |
| Friday | 82% | 14 min |
| Saturday | 70% | 26 min |
| Sunday | 71% | 55 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft25%
- Airline operations14%
- National airspace system24%
- Weather37%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SFB to DSM delayed?
- 22% of SFB–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 21 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 2 p.m. have the worst (65%). 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 1m over 1,124 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are SFB to DSM flights cancelled?
- 1.2% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
Explore related pages
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Related guides
Based on 411 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.