Route · DCA → DSM · 2020–2025 BTS data
Washington to Des Moines
The DCA–DSM corridor (Washington, DC → Des Moines, IA) runs behind the national average, served by 14 carriers across roughly 897 miles.
Data updated 2026-06-13
- 78.4%
- On-time
- -0.6 pts
- vs US avg
- 72 min
- Delay when late
- 3,516
- Flights
Cancelled
4.6%
Best Month
Mar 2024 90%
Worst Month
Feb 2025 53%
Distance
897 mi
Carriers
14
Monthly Performance
Recent 24 months of route data.
| Period | Flights | Delayed | Cancelled | Diverted | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2025 | 45 | 11 | 4 | 0 | YX,OH,MQ |
| Nov 2025 | 55 | 10 | 5 | 0 | MQ,OH,YX |
| Oct 2025 | 62 | 14 | 0 | 0 | OH,YX |
| Sep 2025 | 60 | 14 | 1 | 0 | OH,YX |
| Aug 2025 | 62 | 15 | 0 | 0 | YX,MQ,OH |
| Jul 2025 | 61 | 16 | 13 | 1 | AA,OH,YX,MQ |
| Jun 2025 | 59 | 23 | 4 | 0 | OH,YX,MQ |
| May 2025 | 61 | 18 | 1 | 0 | OH |
| Apr 2025 | 56 | 16 | 4 | 0 | OH |
| Mar 2025 | 62 | 11 | 5 | 0 | OH |
| Feb 2025 | 55 | 26 | 12 | 0 | OH |
| Jan 2025 | 56 | 15 | 4 | 0 | OH |
| Dec 2024 | 46 | 19 | 0 | 0 | OH |
| Nov 2024 | 54 | 8 | 0 | 0 | OH |
| Oct 2024 | 61 | 8 | 0 | 1 | MQ,YX,OH |
| Sep 2024 | 60 | 9 | 0 | 0 | YX,OH,MQ |
| Aug 2024 | 62 | 13 | 2 | 0 | MQ,YX,OH |
| Jul 2024 | 62 | 17 | 0 | 0 | YX |
| Jun 2024 | 60 | 19 | 0 | 1 | MQ,OH,YX |
| May 2024 | 62 | 24 | 0 | 1 | MQ,OH |
| Apr 2024 | 59 | 7 | 0 | 1 | OH,YX |
| Mar 2024 | 62 | 6 | 0 | 0 | OH,YX |
| Feb 2024 | 58 | 9 | 0 | 0 | OH |
| Jan 2024 | 62 | 13 | 9 | 0 | OH |
Cancellation Rate
4.6%
64 of 1,402 flights
Diversion Rate
0.4%
5 of 1,402 flights
Explore origin & destination
On-time and delay data for the airports this route connects.
DCA - Washington
Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Washington, DC.
Origin airport →DSM - Des Moines
Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Des Moines, IA.
Destination airport →Compare the two airports
See DCA and DSM side by side on delays, cancellations, and reliability.
Open comparison tool →Similar routes
Other BTS-tracked routes with comparable performance or trip length to DCA–DSM.
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What the Data Says About DCA to DSM
The Washington to Des Moines corridor (DCA to DSM) posts a 78.4% on-time rate on the lower edge of the average band, based on 3,516 tracked flights. Late flights run 72.4 minutes behind on average. 14 carriers cover the 897-mile route; over the last 24 months, 64 of 1,402 flights were cancelled (4.6%) and 0.4% diverted.
The monthly split is wide on this route: Mar 2024 posted the strongest performance at 90% on-time, while Feb 2025 came in at just 53% - a 38-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
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.