PlainFlights

Route · PHX → DSM · 2020–2025 BTS data

Phoenix to Des Moines

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), PHX to DSM (Phoenix to Des Moines) ranks #2545 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

81.9%
On-time
+2.9 pts
vs US avg
73 min
Delay when late
4,845
Flights
#2545 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

1.0%

Best Month

Jan 2025 92%

Worst Month

May 2024 65%

Distance

1,149 mi

Carriers

24

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 97 25 2 0 WN,AA,MQ,OO
Nov 2025 94 25 4 0 OO,MQ,AA,WN
Oct 2025 106 24 0 0 AA,OO,WN
Sep 2025 68 10 1 0 OO
Aug 2025 70 13 0 0 OO,AA
Jul 2025 61 16 0 0 AA,OO
Jun 2025 67 14 0 1 AA,OO,WN,MQ
May 2025 115 26 0 0 AA,OO,WN,MQ
Apr 2025 120 11 0 1 MQ,OO,WN,AA
Mar 2025 121 13 7 1 AA,WN,MQ
Feb 2025 98 8 0 0 AA,WN,MQ
Jan 2025 102 8 0 0 AA,WN,MQ
Dec 2024 107 13 0 0 AA,MQ,WN
Nov 2024 97 8 0 0 MQ,WN,AA
Oct 2024 81 12 0 0 MQ,WN,AA
Sep 2024 47 6 0 0 MQ
Aug 2024 53 11 0 0 AA,MQ
Jul 2024 61 18 1 1 AA,OO
Jun 2024 60 15 1 0 AA,OO
May 2024 65 23 1 1 AA,OO
Apr 2024 78 19 0 0 AA,MQ,OO
Mar 2024 89 19 0 0 AA,MQ
Feb 2024 78 14 0 0 AA,MQ
Jan 2024 74 19 3 0 AA

PHX–DSM seasonal on-time pattern

Best: April (85.7%) · weakest: July (75.0%)

70%75%80%85%90% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 77.7%

Strongest calendar month

April

85.7% on-time · ~73 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

March

~84 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

July

75.0% on-time · ~59 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

1.0%

20 of 2,009 flights

Diversion Rate

0.2%

5 of 2,009 flights

Origin-hub reliability standing

Mid-pack among PHX departures

From PHX, this corridor sits with 71 other 75–85% on-time routes out of 97 tracked departures, not the hub's reliability leaders (25 at ≥85%) and not the softest ( 1 below 75%). Destination: Des Moines · fleet on-time rank #2413 of 4927.

What the Data Says About PHX to DSM

4,845 tracked flights put the PHX to DSM pairing (Phoenix to Des Moines) at a 81.9% on-time rate, squarely in line with the wider network. Delays that do occur run 72.9 minutes on average. Across the 1,149-mile route and its 24 carriers, the trailing 24 months show 1.0% cancelled and 0.2% diverted (2,009 flights sampled).

The monthly split is wide on this route: Jan 2025 posted the strongest performance at 92% on-time, while May 2024 came in at just 65% - a 28-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, PHX–DSM peaks in April at 85.7% on-time while March carries the heaviest traffic (~84 flights per month) ; the softest month is July at 75.0%, a 10.7-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does PHX to DSM rank among US routes by traffic?
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, PHX to DSM ranks #2545 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 PHX to DSM?
Flights from Phoenix to Des Moines have a 81.9% on-time rate based on 4,845 flights. The average delay is 72.9 minutes. The best recent month was Jan 2025 with 92% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for PHX to DSM?
Over the last 24 months, 1.0% of flights on this route were cancelled (20 of 2,009 flights) and 0.2% were diverted.
How far is the flight from PHX to DSM?
The flight distance from Phoenix (PHX) to Des Moines (DSM) is approximately 1,149 miles. This route is served by 24 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from PHX to DSM?
The best recent month for on-time performance was Jan 2025 (92% on-time). The worst was May 2024 (65% 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 PHX–DSM data

PHX–DSM is mid-pack at 81.9% on-time; month and carrier mix move more than the corridor headline.

  • Compare PHX and DSM airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. PHX airport
  • If your dates flex, April (85.7% on-time) beats July (75.0%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 81.9% 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.