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Route · DSM → DTW · 2020–2025 BTS data

Des Moines to Detroit

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), DSM to DTW (Des Moines to Detroit) ranks #2807 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

91.2%
On-time
+12.2 pts
vs US avg
80 min
Delay when late
4,240
Flights
#2807 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

0.8%

Best Month

Dec 2023 99%

Worst Month

Jun 2024 75%

Distance

534 mi

Carriers

4

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2024 75 8 0 0 9E
Nov 2024 77 4 0 0 9E,DL
Oct 2024 83 2 0 0 9E
Sep 2024 81 3 0 0 9E
Aug 2024 85 11 2 1 9E
Jul 2024 85 11 6 0 9E
Jun 2024 84 21 0 0 9E
May 2024 88 5 0 0 9E
Apr 2024 86 8 1 0 9E
Mar 2024 81 12 0 0 9E
Feb 2024 58 8 0 0 9E
Jan 2024 61 15 2 0 9E
Dec 2023 68 1 0 1 9E
Nov 2023 80 5 0 0 9E
Oct 2023 80 3 0 0 9E
Sep 2023 80 11 0 0 9E
Aug 2023 79 12 1 0 9E
Jul 2023 81 9 1 0 9E
Jun 2023 82 11 0 0 9E
May 2023 78 3 0 0 9E
Apr 2023 72 3 0 0 9E
Mar 2023 62 7 0 0 9E
Feb 2023 56 2 1 0 9E
Jan 2023 61 7 0 0 9E

DSM–DTW seasonal on-time pattern

Best: May (94.7%) · weakest: June (84.4%)

80%85%90%95%100% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 91.2%

Strongest calendar month

May

94.7% on-time · ~75 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

June

~83 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

June

84.4% on-time · ~83 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

0.8%

14 of 1,823 flights

Diversion Rate

0.1%

2 of 1,823 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

DTW - Detroit

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Detroit, MI.

DTW on-time profile

Compare the two airports

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

Compare DSM vs DTW

Origin-hub reliability standing

Among DSM's stronger departures

DSM → DTW posts a 91.2% 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 #80 of 4927 (highest on-time = #1).

What the Data Says About DSM to DTW

Des Moines to Detroit (DSM to DTW) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 91.2% on-time rate across 4,240 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 80.3 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 534 miles and is served by 4 carriers. Over the most recent 24 months, 14 of 1,823 flights were cancelled (0.8%) and 2 diverted (0.1%).

The monthly split is wide on this route: Dec 2023 posted the strongest performance at 99% on-time, while Jun 2024 came in at just 75% - a 24-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, DSM–DTW peaks in May at 94.7% on-time while June carries the heaviest traffic (~83 flights per month) ; the softest month is June at 84.4%, a 10.3-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does DSM to DTW rank among US routes by traffic? ▼
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, DSM to DTW ranks #2807 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 DTW? ▼
Flights from Des Moines to Detroit have a 91.2% on-time rate based on 4,240 flights. The average delay is 80.3 minutes. The best recent month was Dec 2023 with 99% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for DSM to DTW? ▼
Over the last 24 months, 0.8% of flights on this route were cancelled (14 of 1,823 flights) and 0.1% were diverted.
How far is the flight from DSM to DTW? ▼
The flight distance from Des Moines (DSM) to Detroit (DTW) is approximately 534 miles. This route is served by 4 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from DSM to DTW? ▼
The best recent month for on-time performance was Dec 2023 (99% on-time). The worst was Jun 2024 (75% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

DSM Airport

Des Moines
DTW Airport

Detroit
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–DTW data

DSM–DTW runs 12.2 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 DTW airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. DSM airport
  • If your dates flex, May (94.7% on-time) beats June (84.4%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 91.2% 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.