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Route · DSM → LGA · 2020–2025 BTS data

Des Moines to New York

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), DSM to LGA (Des Moines to New York) ranks #3983 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

85.9%
On-time
+6.9 pts
vs US avg
89 min
Delay when late
1,729
Flights
#3983 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

3.3%

Best Month

Sep 2024 96%

Worst Month

Dec 2024 66%

Distance

1,031 mi

Carriers

5

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Apr 2025 30 2 0 0 YX
Mar 2025 31 6 2 0 YX
Jan 2025 31 6 0 0 YX
Dec 2024 76 26 0 0 9E,YX
Nov 2024 79 6 0 0 9E,YX
Oct 2024 82 6 0 0 YX,9E
Sep 2024 80 3 0 0 YX,9E
Aug 2024 79 14 8 0 YX,9E
Jul 2024 75 15 6 1 9E,YX
Jun 2024 76 9 2 1 9E,YX
May 2024 84 14 3 0 9E,YX
Apr 2024 82 5 1 0 9E,YX
Mar 2024 83 12 0 0 9E,YX
Feb 2024 81 13 2 0 9E,YX
Jan 2024 83 21 9 0 9E,YX
Dec 2023 74 4 1 0 YX,9E
Nov 2023 77 7 0 0 9E,YX
Oct 2023 76 7 0 0 9E,YX
Sep 2023 67 14 4 1 9E,YX
Aug 2023 77 13 1 0 9E,YX
Jul 2023 68 10 9 0 9E,YX
Jun 2023 71 12 5 0 9E,YX
Jan 2022 30 9 0 0 9E
Dec 2021 45 3 1 0 9E

DSM–LGA seasonal on-time pattern

Best: April (93.8%) · weakest: January (75.0%)

70%75%80%85%90%95% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 83.1%

Strongest calendar month

April

93.8% on-time · ~56 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

May

~84 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

January

75.0% on-time · ~48 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

3.3%

54 of 1,637 flights

Diversion Rate

0.2%

3 of 1,637 flights

Origin-hub reliability standing

Among DSM's stronger departures

DSM → LGA posts a 85.9% 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 #930 of 4927 (highest on-time = #1).

What the Data Says About DSM to LGA

Des Moines to New York (DSM to LGA) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 85.9% on-time rate across 1,729 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 88.8 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 1,031 miles and is served by 5 carriers. Over the most recent 24 months, 54 of 1,637 flights were cancelled (3.3%) and 3 diverted (0.2%).

The monthly split is wide on this route: Sep 2024 posted the strongest performance at 96% on-time, while Dec 2024 came in at just 66% - a 31-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, DSM–LGA peaks in April at 93.8% on-time while May carries the heaviest traffic (~84 flights per month) ; the softest month is January at 75.0%, a 18.8-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does DSM to LGA rank among US routes by traffic?
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, DSM to LGA ranks #3983 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 LGA?
Flights from Des Moines to New York have a 85.9% on-time rate based on 1,729 flights. The average delay is 88.8 minutes. The best recent month was Sep 2024 with 96% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for DSM to LGA?
Over the last 24 months, 3.3% of flights on this route were cancelled (54 of 1,637 flights) and 0.2% were diverted.
How far is the flight from DSM to LGA?
The flight distance from Des Moines (DSM) to New York (LGA) is approximately 1,031 miles. This route is served by 5 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from DSM to LGA?
The best recent month for on-time performance was Sep 2024 (96% on-time). The worst was Dec 2024 (66% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

Data source

Data Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), On-Time Performance Data. Statistics reflect cumulative performance across all available reporting periods.

Using DSM–LGA data

DSM–LGA runs 6.9 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 LGA airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. DSM airport
  • If your dates flex, April (93.8% on-time) beats January (75.0%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 85.9% 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.