PlainFlights

Route · MSP → DSM · 2020–2025 BTS data

Minneapolis to Des Moines

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), MSP to DSM (Minneapolis to Des Moines) ranks #2258 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

87.1%
On-time
+8.1 pts
vs US avg
71 min
Delay when late
5,520
Flights
#2258 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

0.9%

Best Month

Oct 2024 96%

Worst Month

Jun 2024 67%

Distance

232 mi

Carriers

5

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2024 88 20 0 0 9E
Nov 2024 83 7 0 0 9E
Oct 2024 84 3 0 0 9E
Sep 2024 81 5 0 0 9E
Aug 2024 85 21 2 0 9E
Jul 2024 85 26 4 1 9E
Jun 2024 84 28 1 0 9E
May 2024 88 11 0 1 9E
Apr 2024 86 7 0 1 9E
Mar 2024 88 16 1 0 9E
Feb 2024 78 9 0 0 9E
Jan 2024 88 24 2 0 9E
Dec 2023 83 7 0 0 9E
Nov 2023 83 8 0 0 9E
Oct 2023 86 7 0 0 9E
Sep 2023 84 22 0 0 9E
Aug 2023 89 21 0 0 9E
Jul 2023 86 15 0 0 9E
Jun 2023 86 12 0 0 9E
May 2023 88 5 0 1 9E
Apr 2023 87 10 0 0 9E
Mar 2023 93 20 0 0 9E
Feb 2023 79 6 6 0 9E
Jan 2023 87 23 3 0 9E,DL

MSP–DSM seasonal on-time pattern

Best: October (92.6%) · weakest: January (79.3%)

75%80%85%90%95% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 82.5%

Strongest calendar month

October

92.6% on-time · ~94 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

August

~100 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

January

79.3% on-time · ~92 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

0.9%

19 of 2,049 flights

Diversion Rate

0.2%

4 of 2,049 flights

Explore origin & destination

On-time and delay data for the airports this route connects.

MSP - Minneapolis

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

MSP on-time profile

DSM - Des Moines

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Des Moines, IA.

DSM on-time profile

Compare the two airports

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

Compare MSP vs DSM

Origin-hub reliability standing

Among MSP's stronger departures

MSP → DSM posts a 87.1% on-time rate, landing in the ≥85% band with 42 of 99 BTS-tracked routes leaving Minneapolis. The same hub also shows 57 mid-band and 0 challenged departures · fleet-wide on-time rank #616 of 4927 (highest on-time = #1).

What the Data Says About MSP to DSM

Minneapolis to Des Moines (MSP to DSM) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 87.1% on-time rate across 5,520 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 71.3 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 232 miles and is served by 5 carriers. Over the most recent 24 months, 19 of 2,049 flights were cancelled (0.9%) and 4 diverted (0.2%).

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 67% - a 30-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, MSP–DSM peaks in October at 92.6% on-time while August carries the heaviest traffic (~100 flights per month) ; the softest month is January at 79.3%, a 13.3-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does MSP to DSM rank among US routes by traffic? ▼
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, MSP to DSM ranks #2258 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 MSP to DSM? ▼
Flights from Minneapolis to Des Moines have a 87.1% on-time rate based on 5,520 flights. The average delay is 71.3 minutes. The best recent month was Oct 2024 with 96% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for MSP to DSM? ▼
Over the last 24 months, 0.9% of flights on this route were cancelled (19 of 2,049 flights) and 0.2% were diverted.
How far is the flight from MSP to DSM? ▼
The flight distance from Minneapolis (MSP) to Des Moines (DSM) is approximately 232 miles. This route is served by 5 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from MSP to DSM? ▼
The best recent month for on-time performance was Oct 2024 (96% on-time). The worst was Jun 2024 (67% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

MSP Airport

Minneapolis
DSM Airport

Des Moines
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 MSP–DSM data

MSP–DSM runs 8.1 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare MSP and DSM airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. MSP airport
  • If your dates flex, October (92.6% on-time) beats January (79.3%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 87.1% 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.