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Route · DSM → DEN · 2020–2025 BTS data

Des Moines to Denver

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), DSM to DEN (Des Moines to Denver) ranks #875 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

82.5%
On-time
+3.5 pts
vs US avg
79 min
Delay when late
12,369
Flights
#875 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

1.1%

Best Month

Nov 2025 91%

Worst Month

May 2024 75%

Distance

589 mi

Carriers

21

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 167 35 0 0 WN,F9,UA,OO
Nov 2025 164 15 5 0 OO,UA,F9,WN
Oct 2025 198 21 0 0 OO,UA,WN,F9
Sep 2025 223 28 0 0 UA,WN,OO,F9
Aug 2025 226 57 0 3 OO,WN,F9,UA
Jul 2025 224 56 0 2 OO,UA,WN,F9
Jun 2025 215 48 2 0 OO,UA,WN,F9
May 2025 190 42 2 0 OO,UA,WN,F9
Apr 2025 160 32 1 0 F9,OO,UA,WN
Mar 2025 171 17 6 0 OO,UA,WN,F9
Feb 2025 145 28 1 0 OO,UA,WN,F9
Jan 2025 157 26 0 0 OO,UA,WN,F9
Dec 2024 166 26 2 0 F9,OO,UA,WN
Nov 2024 171 25 1 0 OO,UA,WN,F9
Oct 2024 187 21 0 1 UA,OO,WN,F9
Sep 2024 206 20 0 0 WN,OO,UA,F9
Aug 2024 213 35 2 0 F9,WN,OO,UA
Jul 2024 212 44 3 0 F9,OO,UA,WN
Jun 2024 205 48 1 0 F9,OO,UA,WN
May 2024 204 52 1 1 F9,OO,UA,WN
Apr 2024 196 34 1 0 F9,OO,UA,WN
Mar 2024 196 25 2 0 F9,OO,UA,WN
Feb 2024 174 32 2 1 OO,UA,WN
Jan 2024 188 40 16 0 F9,WN,OO,UA

DSM–DEN seasonal on-time pattern

Best: November (88.9%) · weakest: July (76.0%)

75%80%85%90% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 79.2%

Strongest calendar month

November

88.9% on-time · ~161 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

October

~195 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

July

76.0% on-time · ~190 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

1.1%

48 of 4,558 flights

Diversion Rate

0.2%

8 of 4,558 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

DEN - Denver

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Denver, CO.

DEN on-time profile

Compare the two airports

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

Compare DSM vs DEN

Origin-hub reliability standing

Mid-pack among DSM departures

From DSM, this corridor sits with 7 other 75–85% on-time routes out of 13 tracked departures, not the hub's reliability leaders (6 at ≥85%) and not the softest ( 0 below 75%). Destination: Denver · fleet on-time rank #2137 of 4927.

What the Data Says About DSM to DEN

Bureau of Transportation Statistics records show Des Moines to Denver (DSM to DEN) running a 82.5% on-time rate over 12,369 tracked flights, on the stronger end of a typical domestic pairing. When flights do run late, the average delay is 79.2 minutes. The 589-mile corridor is served by 21 carriers, and over the last 24 months 1.1% of 4,558 flights were cancelled, 0.2% diverted.

The monthly split is wide on this route: Nov 2025 posted the strongest performance at 91% on-time, while May 2024 came in at just 75% - a 16-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, DSM–DEN peaks in November at 88.9% on-time while October carries the heaviest traffic (~195 flights per month) ; the softest month is July at 76.0%, a 12.9-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does DSM to DEN rank among US routes by traffic? ▼
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, DSM to DEN ranks #875 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 DEN? ▼
Flights from Des Moines to Denver have a 82.5% on-time rate based on 12,369 flights. The average delay is 79.2 minutes. The best recent month was Nov 2025 with 91% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for DSM to DEN? ▼
Over the last 24 months, 1.1% of flights on this route were cancelled (48 of 4,558 flights) and 0.2% were diverted.
How far is the flight from DSM to DEN? ▼
The flight distance from Des Moines (DSM) to Denver (DEN) is approximately 589 miles. This route is served by 21 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from DSM to DEN? ▼
The best recent month for on-time performance was Nov 2025 (91% on-time). The worst was May 2024 (75% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

DSM Airport

Des Moines
DEN Airport

Denver
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–DEN data

DSM–DEN runs 3.5 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 DEN airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. DSM airport
  • If your dates flex, November (88.9% on-time) beats July (76.0%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 82.5% 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.