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Route · STL → DSM · 2020–2025 BTS data

St. Louis to Des Moines

The STL–DSM corridor (St. Louis, MO → Des Moines, IA) runs ahead of the national average, served by 1 carrier across roughly 259 miles.

Data updated 2026-06-13

81.5%
On-time
+2.5 pts
vs US avg
57 min
Delay when late
3,689
Flights

Cancelled

1.0%

Best Month

Nov 2024 95%

Worst Month

May 2024 62%

Distance

259 mi

Carriers

1

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 60 20 0 0 WN
Nov 2025 56 9 2 0 WN
Oct 2025 57 5 0 0 WN
Sep 2025 56 6 0 1 WN
Aug 2025 56 12 0 0 WN
Jul 2025 57 16 0 0 WN
Jun 2025 56 7 0 0 WN
May 2025 56 11 1 0 WN
Apr 2025 56 13 0 0 WN
Mar 2025 57 9 2 0 WN
Feb 2025 52 9 0 0 WN
Jan 2025 59 7 2 0 WN
Dec 2024 60 12 0 0 WN
Nov 2024 56 3 0 0 WN
Oct 2024 57 9 0 0 WN
Sep 2024 55 7 0 0 WN
Aug 2024 57 8 0 1 WN
Jul 2024 58 17 0 0 WN
Jun 2024 55 16 0 0 WN
May 2024 58 22 0 1 WN
Apr 2024 56 14 0 0 WN
Mar 2024 57 13 0 0 WN
Feb 2024 54 8 0 0 WN
Jan 2024 58 16 6 0 WN

Cancellation Rate

1.0%

13 of 1,359 flights

Diversion Rate

0.2%

3 of 1,359 flights

What the Data Says About STL to DSM

3,689 tracked flights put the STL to DSM pairing (St. Louis to Des Moines) at a 81.5% on-time rate, squarely in line with the wider network. Delays that do occur run 56.8 minutes on average. Across the 259-mile route and its 1 carrier, the trailing 24 months show 1.0% cancelled and 0.2% diverted (1,359 flights sampled).

The monthly split is wide on this route: Nov 2024 posted the strongest performance at 95% on-time, while May 2024 came in at just 62% - a 33-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often are flights delayed from STL to DSM?
Flights from St. Louis to Des Moines have a 81.5% on-time rate based on 3,689 flights. The average delay is 56.8 minutes. The best recent month was Nov 2024 with 95% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for STL to DSM?
Over the last 24 months, 1.0% of flights on this route were cancelled (13 of 1,359 flights) and 0.2% were diverted.
How far is the flight from STL to DSM?
The flight distance from St. Louis (STL) to Des Moines (DSM) is approximately 259 miles. This route is served by 1 carrier.
When is the best time to fly from STL to DSM?
The best recent month for on-time performance was Nov 2024 (95% on-time). The worst was May 2024 (62% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

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Data source

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

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 Editorial

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.