Route · DSM → DCA · 2020–2025 BTS data
Des Moines to Washington
The DSM–DCA corridor (Des Moines, IA → Washington, DC) runs ahead of the national average, served by 15 carriers across roughly 897 miles.
Data updated 2026-06-13
- 82.1%
- On-time
- +3.1 pts
- vs US avg
- 80 min
- Delay when late
- 3,549
- Flights
Cancelled
4.4%
Best Month
Apr 2025 91%
Worst Month
Feb 2025 65%
Distance
897 mi
Carriers
15
Monthly Performance
Recent 24 months of route data.
| Period | Flights | Delayed | Cancelled | Diverted | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2025 | 47 | 10 | 5 | 0 | YX,OH,MQ |
| Nov 2025 | 55 | 10 | 2 | 0 | MQ,OH,YX |
| Oct 2025 | 62 | 14 | 0 | 0 | OH,YX |
| Sep 2025 | 60 | 17 | 0 | 1 | OH,YX |
| Aug 2025 | 62 | 12 | 2 | 1 | YX,MQ,OH |
| Jul 2025 | 61 | 12 | 11 | 2 | AA,OH,YX,MQ |
| Jun 2025 | 59 | 18 | 3 | 0 | OH,YX,MQ |
| May 2025 | 61 | 14 | 1 | 1 | OH |
| Apr 2025 | 56 | 5 | 4 | 0 | OH |
| Mar 2025 | 62 | 10 | 7 | 0 | OH |
| Feb 2025 | 55 | 19 | 11 | 1 | OH |
| Jan 2025 | 56 | 14 | 5 | 0 | OH,MQ |
| Dec 2024 | 47 | 17 | 0 | 1 | OH |
| Nov 2024 | 54 | 7 | 0 | 0 | OH |
| Oct 2024 | 61 | 9 | 0 | 0 | MQ,YX,OH |
| Sep 2024 | 60 | 10 | 0 | 0 | YX,OH,MQ |
| Aug 2024 | 62 | 12 | 1 | 1 | MQ,YX,OH |
| Jul 2024 | 62 | 16 | 1 | 1 | YX |
| Jun 2024 | 60 | 14 | 0 | 0 | MQ,OH,YX |
| May 2024 | 62 | 19 | 0 | 1 | MQ,OH |
| Apr 2024 | 59 | 6 | 0 | 0 | OH,YX |
| Mar 2024 | 61 | 11 | 0 | 0 | OH,YX |
| Feb 2024 | 58 | 12 | 0 | 0 | OH |
| Jan 2024 | 62 | 20 | 9 | 0 | OH |
Cancellation Rate
4.4%
62 of 1,404 flights
Diversion Rate
0.7%
10 of 1,404 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.
Origin airport →DCA - Washington
Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Washington, DC.
Destination airport →Compare the two airports
See DSM and DCA side by side on delays, cancellations, and reliability.
Open comparison tool →Similar routes
Other BTS-tracked routes with comparable performance or trip length to DSM–DCA.
Routes with a similar on-time rate
What the Data Says About DSM to DCA
Bureau of Transportation Statistics records show Des Moines to Washington (DSM to DCA) running a 82.1% on-time rate over 3,549 tracked flights, on the stronger end of a typical domestic pairing. When flights do run late, the average delay is 79.6 minutes. The 897-mile corridor is served by 15 carriers, and over the last 24 months 4.4% of 1,404 flights were cancelled, 0.7% diverted.
The monthly split is wide on this route: Apr 2025 posted the strongest performance at 91% on-time, while Feb 2025 came in at just 65% - a 26-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often are flights delayed from DSM to DCA? ▼
What is the cancellation rate for DSM to DCA? ▼
How far is the flight from DSM to DCA? ▼
When is the best time to fly from DSM to DCA? ▼
Flight Guides
Tips and data-driven advice for choosing reliable routes.
Explore PlainFlights
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.