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Route · DSM → ATL · 2020–2025 BTS data

Des Moines to Atlanta

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), DSM to ATL (Des Moines to Atlanta) ranks #1931 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

89.5%
On-time
+10.5 pts
vs US avg
108 min
Delay when late
6,506
Flights
#1931 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

1.2%

Best Month

Aug 2024 98%

Worst Month

Jan 2024 71%

Distance

743 mi

Carriers

4

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 87 10 5 1 DL
Nov 2025 112 15 3 1 DL
Oct 2025 119 5 0 0 DL
Sep 2025 112 7 0 0 DL
Aug 2025 116 9 0 0 DL
Jul 2025 115 16 1 2 DL
Jun 2025 114 23 2 0 DL
May 2025 118 28 0 0 DL
Apr 2025 88 6 0 0 DL
Mar 2025 93 16 2 0 DL
Feb 2025 84 15 0 0 DL
Jan 2025 91 13 4 0 DL
Dec 2024 106 18 0 0 9E,DL
Nov 2024 104 4 0 0 9E,DL
Oct 2024 114 11 0 0 DL
Sep 2024 108 7 0 1 DL
Aug 2024 96 2 0 0 DL
Jul 2024 112 26 9 2 DL
Jun 2024 90 6 0 0 DL
May 2024 93 19 1 0 DL
Apr 2024 90 10 0 0 DL
Mar 2024 93 7 0 0 DL
Feb 2024 87 6 0 0 DL
Jan 2024 92 27 2 0 DL

DSM–ATL seasonal on-time pattern

Best: September (94.4%) · weakest: January (83.8%)

80%85%90%95% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 87.4%

Strongest calendar month

September

94.4% on-time · ~98 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

June

~100 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

January

83.8% on-time · ~89 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

1.2%

29 of 2,434 flights

Diversion Rate

0.3%

7 of 2,434 flights

Explore origin & destination

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

DSM - Des Moines

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

DSM on-time profile

ATL - Atlanta

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

ATL on-time profile

Compare the two airports

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

Compare DSM vs ATL

Origin-hub reliability standing

Among DSM's stronger departures

DSM → ATL posts a 89.5% on-time rate, landing in the ≥85% band with 6 of 13 BTS-tracked routes leaving Des Moines. The same hub also shows 7 mid-band and 0 challenged departures · fleet-wide on-time rank #184 of 4927 (highest on-time = #1).

What the Data Says About DSM to ATL

Des Moines to Atlanta (DSM to ATL) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 89.5% on-time rate across 6,506 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 108.2 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 743 miles and is served by 4 carriers. Over the most recent 24 months, 29 of 2,434 flights were cancelled (1.2%) and 7 diverted (0.3%).

The monthly split is wide on this route: Aug 2024 posted the strongest performance at 98% on-time, while Jan 2024 came in at just 71% - a 27-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, DSM–ATL peaks in September at 94.4% on-time while June carries the heaviest traffic (~100 flights per month) ; the softest month is January at 83.8%, a 10.6-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does DSM to ATL rank among US routes by traffic? ▼
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, DSM to ATL ranks #1931 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 DSM to ATL? ▼
Flights from Des Moines to Atlanta have a 89.5% on-time rate based on 6,506 flights. The average delay is 108.2 minutes. The best recent month was Aug 2024 with 98% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for DSM to ATL? ▼
Over the last 24 months, 1.2% of flights on this route were cancelled (29 of 2,434 flights) and 0.3% were diverted.
How far is the flight from DSM to ATL? ▼
The flight distance from Des Moines (DSM) to Atlanta (ATL) is approximately 743 miles. This route is served by 4 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from DSM to ATL? ▼
The best recent month for on-time performance was Aug 2024 (98% on-time). The worst was Jan 2024 (71% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

DSM Airport

Des Moines
ATL Airport

Atlanta
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 DSM–ATL data

DSM–ATL runs 10.5 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare DSM and ATL airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. DSM airport
  • If your dates flex, September (94.4% on-time) beats January (83.8%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 89.5% 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.