State · IA · 2020–2025 BTS data
Iowa
According to PlainFlights' state traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), Iowa ranks #39 of 53 US states by total flight operations (most flights = #1).
Data updated 2026-06-13
- 82.6%
- On-time
- +3.6 pts
- vs US avg
- 86 min
- Delay when late
- 1.27%
- Cancelled
- #39 of 53
- Corpus placement
State reliability verdict
According to U.S. DOT BTS data, Iowa is a quiet-book state: 288,729 operations at 7 airports run 82.6% on-time, 3.6 pts above the 79% U.S. average. Among tracked airports, DBQ leads locally at 89.5% on-time.
- 82.6%
- statewide on-time
- +3.6 pts
- vs US average
- 7
- airports tracked
- 1.27%
- cancellation rate
On-time means arrived less than 15 minutes after schedule. Figures are historical BTS averages, not a guarantee for any single flight.
Iowa vs all states by total flight operations
Where this state's BTS On-Time Performance flight count sits among every state with tracked operations (traffic density, not on-time quality)
288,729 Top 74% more flights than 26% of 53 states
States, banded by total BTS-tracked flights
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source BTS On-Time Performance · 2026-06-13
Airports in Iowa
Iowa airports ranked by on-time rate
7 BTS-tracked airports, led by DBQ at 89.5%
On-time rate by airport
- DBQ
Dubuque, IA: 89.5% on-time, 3,012 flights
90 %
- ALO
Waterloo, IA: 87.7% on-time, 4,350 flights
88 %
- MCW
Mason City, IA: 83.4% on-time, 5,851 flights
83 %
- FOD
Fort Dodge, IA: 83.4% on-time, 5,848 flights
83 %
- DSM
Des Moines, IA: 82.6% on-time, 169,476 flights
83 %
- CID
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, IA: 82.2% on-time, 91,140 flights
82 %
- SUX
Sioux City, IA: 81.8% on-time, 9,052 flights
82 %
What this shows Airports here range from 81.8% to 89.5% on-time.
| Code | Airport | City | Flights | On-Time | Avg Delay (when late) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSM | Des Moines, IA | Des Moines | 169,476 | 82.6% | 82.0 min |
| CID | Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, IA | Cedar Rapids/Iowa City | 91,140 | 82.2% | 87.7 min |
| SUX | Sioux City, IA | Sioux City | 9,052 | 81.8% | 100.9 min |
| MCW | Mason City, IA | Mason City | 5,851 | 83.4% | 119.2 min |
| FOD | Fort Dodge, IA | Fort Dodge | 5,848 | 83.4% | 110.9 min |
| ALO | Waterloo, IA | Waterloo | 4,350 | 87.7% | 77.3 min |
| DBQ | Dubuque, IA | Dubuque | 3,012 | 89.5% | 83.5 min |
Iowa traffic-scale reading
The standout signal in Iowa is traffic scale: 288,729 BTS flights place it #39 of 53 by book size. That quiet-book footprint sits beside a 82.6% on-time rate (3.6 pts above the 79% U.S. average), 50,222 delayed departures, and a 1.27% cancellation rate.
As a quieter state, Des Moines, IA (DSM) still leads volume with 169,476 flights at 82.6% on-time; a single late inbound can swing the monthly book more than at a mega-hub state.
On the recent 24-month tape, delay pressure is lightest in Nov 2024 and heaviest in Dec 2025. On reliability, Dubuque, IA (DBQ) posts the highest on-time rate at 89.5% across 3,012 flights. On-time performance explained.
States With a Similar On-Time Rate
Other U.S. states whose statewide on-time rate is closest to Iowa's 82.6%.
Using Iowa's data
Iowa's statewide on-time book is mid-pack; airport choice and month move more than the headline rate.
- Dubuque, IA (DBQ) is the most reliable airport in Iowa among those with meaningful traffic. DBQ profile
- Des Moines, IA handles the most traffic in the state; its performance weighs heavily on the state average. DSM profile
- See how Iowa compares with every other state that has BTS-tracked airports. All states
State averages are flight-weighted across all reporting airports in the state; a single busy airport can dominate the figure.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Airline on-time performance and operational reliability · 2025