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Route · DSM → PHX · 2020–2025 BTS data

Des Moines to Phoenix

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), DSM to PHX (Des Moines to Phoenix) ranks #2547 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

83.9%
On-time
+4.9 pts
vs US avg
112 min
Delay when late
4,841
Flights
#2547 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

1.1%

Best Month

Mar 2024 93%

Worst Month

Jan 2024 62%

Distance

1,149 mi

Carriers

24

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 97 25 1 0 WN,AA,MQ,OO
Nov 2025 94 24 5 0 OO,MQ,AA,WN
Oct 2025 105 25 0 0 AA,OO,WN
Sep 2025 68 11 1 0 OO
Aug 2025 70 8 0 2 AA,OO
Jul 2025 61 9 1 0 AA,OO
Jun 2025 66 5 0 0 AA,OO,WN,MQ
May 2025 116 25 0 0 AA,OO,WN,MQ
Apr 2025 120 12 0 0 MQ,OO,WN,AA
Mar 2025 121 14 7 0 AA,WN,MQ
Feb 2025 98 17 0 0 AA,WN,MQ
Jan 2025 101 9 0 0 AA,WN,MQ
Dec 2024 106 14 0 0 AA,MQ,WN
Nov 2024 97 8 0 0 WN,MQ,AA
Oct 2024 81 8 0 0 MQ,WN,AA
Sep 2024 47 2 0 0 MQ
Aug 2024 53 6 0 0 AA,MQ
Jul 2024 61 14 1 0 AA,OO
Jun 2024 60 8 1 0 AA,OO
May 2024 65 11 1 0 AA,OO
Apr 2024 78 13 0 0 AA,MQ,OO
Mar 2024 89 6 1 0 AA,MQ
Feb 2024 79 7 1 0 AA,MQ
Jan 2024 74 28 3 0 AA

DSM–PHX seasonal on-time pattern

Best: April (87.3%) · weakest: January (79.3%)

78%80%82%84%86%88% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 79.5%

Strongest calendar month

April

87.3% on-time · ~74 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

March

~84 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

January

79.3% on-time · ~73 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

1.1%

23 of 2,007 flights

Diversion Rate

0.1%

2 of 2,007 flights

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: Phoenix · fleet on-time rank #1610 of 4927.

What the Data Says About DSM to PHX

Bureau of Transportation Statistics records show Des Moines to Phoenix (DSM to PHX) running a 83.9% on-time rate over 4,841 tracked flights, on the stronger end of a typical domestic pairing. When flights do run late, the average delay is 111.9 minutes. The 1,149-mile corridor is served by 24 carriers, and over the last 24 months 1.1% of 2,007 flights were cancelled, 0.1% diverted.

The monthly split is wide on this route: Mar 2024 posted the strongest performance at 93% on-time, while Jan 2024 came in at just 62% - a 31-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, DSM–PHX peaks in April at 87.3% on-time while March carries the heaviest traffic (~84 flights per month) ; the softest month is January at 79.3%, a 8.0-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does DSM to PHX rank among US routes by traffic?
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, DSM to PHX ranks #2547 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 PHX?
Flights from Des Moines to Phoenix have a 83.9% on-time rate based on 4,841 flights. The average delay is 111.9 minutes. The best recent month was Mar 2024 with 93% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for DSM to PHX?
Over the last 24 months, 1.1% of flights on this route were cancelled (23 of 2,007 flights) and 0.1% were diverted.
How far is the flight from DSM to PHX?
The flight distance from Des Moines (DSM) to Phoenix (PHX) is approximately 1,149 miles. This route is served by 24 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from DSM to PHX?
The best recent month for on-time performance was Mar 2024 (93% on-time). The worst was Jan 2024 (62% 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–PHX data

DSM–PHX runs 4.9 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 PHX airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. DSM airport
  • If your dates flex, April (87.3% on-time) beats January (79.3%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 83.9% 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.