Best Time to Fly CLT to DSM: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Charlotte Douglas International → Des Moines International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 72.8% of Charlotte (CLT) to Des Moines (DSM) flights arrived on time (809 scheduled flights). That is 4.8 points below the national average of 77.6%.
Among 2 airlines, PSA Airlines led with 77.4% on time and American Airlines was last with 71.5%.
Over 24 months, Wednesday was the most reliable day (79% on time) and July the worst month (54%).
The cancellation rate was 3.1% (US average 1.8%).
CLT to DSM on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA Airlines | 77.4% | 74 min | 5.8% | 188 |
| American Airlines | 71.5% | 69 min | 2.2% | 621 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly CLT to DSM
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 1,537 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8am–9am | Limited data | 16 | |
| 9am–10am | 94.1% | 0.0% | 34 |
| 10am–11am | Limited data | 1 | |
| 11am–12pm | 76.8% | 1.0% | 301 |
| 12pm–1pm | 80.0% | 1.4% | 138 |
| 1pm–2pm | 69.7% | 2.2% | 91 |
| 2pm–3pm | 85.5% | 6.3% | 126 |
| 3pm–4pm | 71.6% | 0.0% | 75 |
| 4pm–5pm | 76.9% | 2.5% | 40 |
| 5pm–6pm | Limited data | 1 | |
| 6pm–7pm | Limited data | 11 | |
| 7pm–8pm | Limited data | 23 | |
| 8pm–9pm | 72.0% | 1.1% | 268 |
| 9pm–10pm | 63.4% | 2.1% | 238 |
| 10pm–11pm | 58.0% | 6.9% | 174 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on CLT to DSM
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | Limited data | 32 | ||
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 63.2% | -13.4 pts | 5.0% | 60 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 54.4% | -22.1 pts | 2.0% | 255 |
| All other days | 76.5% | — | 1.9% | 1,190 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).