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Route · DSM → MSP · 2020–2025 BTS data

Des Moines to Minneapolis

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), DSM to MSP (Des Moines to Minneapolis) ranks #2260 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

89.1%
On-time
+10.1 pts
vs US avg
82 min
Delay when late
5,518
Flights
#2260 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

1.0%

Best Month

Oct 2024 96%

Worst Month

Jun 2024 55%

Distance

232 mi

Carriers

5

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2024 88 15 0 0 9E
Nov 2024 83 6 0 0 9E
Oct 2024 84 3 0 0 9E
Sep 2024 81 10 0 0 9E
Aug 2024 85 26 2 0 9E
Jul 2024 85 32 4 0 9E
Jun 2024 84 38 1 0 9E
May 2024 88 10 0 0 9E
Apr 2024 86 8 0 0 9E
Mar 2024 88 4 1 0 9E
Feb 2024 78 4 0 0 9E
Jan 2024 87 19 3 0 9E
Dec 2023 84 9 0 0 9E
Nov 2023 83 10 0 0 9E
Oct 2023 86 8 0 0 9E
Sep 2023 84 20 0 0 9E
Aug 2023 89 17 0 0 9E
Jul 2023 86 10 0 0 9E
Jun 2023 86 7 0 0 9E
May 2023 88 5 0 0 9E
Apr 2023 87 12 0 0 9E
Mar 2023 93 11 0 0 9E
Feb 2023 79 4 6 0 9E
Jan 2023 87 10 3 0 9E,DL

DSM–MSP seasonal on-time pattern

Best: March (93.4%) · weakest: August (84.5%)

84%86%88%90%92%94% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 86.2%

Strongest calendar month

March

93.4% on-time · ~97 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

August

~100 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

August

84.5% on-time · ~100 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

1.0%

20 of 2,049 flights

Diversion Rate

0.0%

0 of 2,049 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

MSP - Minneapolis

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Minneapolis, MN.

MSP on-time profile

Compare the two airports

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

Compare DSM vs MSP

Origin-hub reliability standing

Among DSM's stronger departures

DSM → MSP posts a 89.1% 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 #233 of 4927 (highest on-time = #1).

What the Data Says About DSM to MSP

Des Moines to Minneapolis (DSM to MSP) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 89.1% on-time rate across 5,518 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 82.3 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 232 miles and is served by 5 carriers. Over the most recent 24 months, 20 of 2,049 flights were cancelled (1.0%) and 0 diverted (0.0%).

The monthly split is wide on this route: Oct 2024 posted the strongest performance at 96% on-time, while Jun 2024 came in at just 55% - a 42-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, DSM–MSP peaks in March at 93.4% on-time while August carries the heaviest traffic (~100 flights per month) ; the softest month is August at 84.5%, a 8.9-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does DSM to MSP rank among US routes by traffic? ▼
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, DSM to MSP ranks #2260 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 MSP? ▼
Flights from Des Moines to Minneapolis have a 89.1% on-time rate based on 5,518 flights. The average delay is 82.3 minutes. The best recent month was Oct 2024 with 96% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for DSM to MSP? ▼
Over the last 24 months, 1.0% of flights on this route were cancelled (20 of 2,049 flights) and 0.0% were diverted.
How far is the flight from DSM to MSP? ▼
The flight distance from Des Moines (DSM) to Minneapolis (MSP) is approximately 232 miles. This route is served by 5 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from DSM to MSP? ▼
The best recent month for on-time performance was Oct 2024 (96% on-time). The worst was Jun 2024 (55% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

DSM Airport

Des Moines
MSP Airport

Minneapolis
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–MSP data

DSM–MSP runs 10.1 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 MSP airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. DSM airport
  • If your dates flex, March (93.4% on-time) beats August (84.5%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 89.1% 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.