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Route · ATL → DSM · 2020–2025 BTS data

Atlanta to Des Moines

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), ATL to DSM (Atlanta to Des Moines) ranks #1933 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

88.6%
On-time
+9.6 pts
vs US avg
70 min
Delay when late
6,504
Flights
#1933 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

1.2%

Best Month

Feb 2024 97%

Worst Month

Jun 2025 67%

Distance

743 mi

Carriers

4

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 85 9 5 1 DL
Nov 2025 112 15 3 0 DL
Oct 2025 119 11 0 0 DL
Sep 2025 112 12 0 0 DL
Aug 2025 116 18 0 0 DL
Jul 2025 115 21 1 0 DL
Jun 2025 114 38 2 0 DL
May 2025 118 30 0 0 DL
Apr 2025 88 13 0 0 DL
Mar 2025 93 20 2 1 DL
Feb 2025 84 13 0 0 DL
Jan 2025 91 12 4 0 DL
Dec 2024 106 16 0 1 9E,DL
Nov 2024 104 8 0 0 9E,DL
Oct 2024 114 10 0 1 DL
Sep 2024 108 14 0 0 DL
Aug 2024 96 11 0 1 DL
Jul 2024 112 31 9 0 DL
Jun 2024 90 9 0 0 DL
May 2024 93 17 1 0 DL
Apr 2024 90 9 0 1 DL
Mar 2024 93 8 0 0 DL
Feb 2024 87 3 0 0 DL
Jan 2024 92 16 2 0 DL

ATL–DSM seasonal on-time pattern

Best: November (92.8%) · weakest: May (81.6%)

80%85%90%95% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 90.1%

Strongest calendar month

November

92.8% on-time · ~95 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

June

~100 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

May

81.6% on-time · ~97 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

1.2%

29 of 2,432 flights

Diversion Rate

0.2%

6 of 2,432 flights

Explore origin & destination

On-time and delay data for the airports this route connects.

ATL - Atlanta

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Atlanta, GA.

ATL on-time profile

DSM - Des Moines

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Des Moines, IA.

DSM on-time profile

Compare the two airports

See ATL and DSM side by side on delays, cancellations, and reliability.

Compare ATL vs DSM

Origin-hub reliability standing

Among ATL's stronger departures

ATL → DSM posts a 88.6% on-time rate, landing in the ≥85% band with 67 of 144 BTS-tracked routes leaving Atlanta. The same hub also shows 75 mid-band and 2 challenged departures · fleet-wide on-time rank #304 of 4927 (highest on-time = #1).

What the Data Says About ATL to DSM

Atlanta to Des Moines (ATL to DSM) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 88.6% on-time rate across 6,504 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 69.7 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 743 miles and is served by 4 carriers. Over the most recent 24 months, 29 of 2,432 flights were cancelled (1.2%) and 6 diverted (0.2%).

The monthly split is wide on this route: Feb 2024 posted the strongest performance at 97% on-time, while Jun 2025 came in at just 67% - a 30-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, ATL–DSM peaks in November at 92.8% on-time while June carries the heaviest traffic (~100 flights per month) ; the softest month is May at 81.6%, a 11.2-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does ATL to DSM rank among US routes by traffic? ▼
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, ATL to DSM ranks #1933 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1). That ordinal matches our busiest-routes listing (total_flights DESC). See /methodology#corpus-placement for the exact sort basis.
How often are flights delayed from ATL to DSM? ▼
Flights from Atlanta to Des Moines have a 88.6% on-time rate based on 6,504 flights. The average delay is 69.7 minutes. The best recent month was Feb 2024 with 97% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for ATL to DSM? ▼
Over the last 24 months, 1.2% of flights on this route were cancelled (29 of 2,432 flights) and 0.2% were diverted.
How far is the flight from ATL to DSM? ▼
The flight distance from Atlanta (ATL) to Des Moines (DSM) is approximately 743 miles. This route is served by 4 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from ATL to DSM? ▼
The best recent month for on-time performance was Feb 2024 (97% on-time). The worst was Jun 2025 (67% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

ATL Airport

Atlanta
DSM Airport

Des Moines
Data source

Data Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), On-Time Performance Data. Statistics reflect cumulative performance across all available reporting periods.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Using ATL–DSM data

ATL–DSM runs 9.6 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare ATL and DSM airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. ATL airport
  • If your dates flex, November (92.8% on-time) beats May (81.6%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 88.6% on-time rate; compare before you commit to this pairing. Similar routes

On-time rate reflects the BTS historical average across all reporting carriers on this origin–destination pair, not any single flight or booking recommendation.

Data sourced from U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) On-Time Performance data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFlights

Every figure on PlainFlights is rendered directly from BTS On-Time Performance data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates this specific route's on-time performance and monthly trend, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.