Best Time to Fly DCA to DSM: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Ronald Reagan Washington National → Des Moines International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
702 flights were scheduled from Washington (DCA) to Des Moines (DSM) in the last 12 months, and 72.9% of those that flew arrived on time, 4.7 points below the US average of 77.6%.
Among 3 airlines, Envoy Air led with 77.9% on time and PSA Airlines was last with 71.4%.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (78% on time) and February the worst month (58%).
The cancellation rate was 5.7% (US average 1.8%).
DCA 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envoy Air | 77.9% | 66 min | 3.8% | 80 |
| Republic Airways | 73.6% | 67 min | 3.5% | 228 |
| PSA Airlines | 71.4% | 82 min | 7.4% | 394 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DCA to DSM
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 1,395 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8am–9am | Limited data | 5 | |
| 9am–10am | Limited data | 13 | |
| 10am–11am | 80.5% | 4.4% | 295 |
| 11am–12pm | 76.4% | 2.8% | 109 |
| 12pm–1pm | 71.4% | 3.1% | 65 |
| 1pm–2pm | 75.5% | 1.3% | 227 |
| 2pm–3pm | Limited data | 1 | |
| 3pm–4pm | Limited data | 5 | |
| 6pm–7pm | Limited data | 1 | |
| 7pm–8pm | 68.0% | 8.0% | 212 |
| 8pm–9pm | 64.2% | 13.3% | 188 |
| 9pm–10pm | 46.4% | 18.8% | 69 |
| 10pm–11pm | 74.6% | 3.4% | 205 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on DCA 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 | 23 | ||
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | Limited data | 30 | ||
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 61.7% | -13.0 pts | 9.3% | 246 |
| All other days | 74.7% | — | 5.3% | 1,096 |
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).