Route on-time record

DEN to DSM: most on-time flights and the best time to fly

Denver (Denver International Airport) to Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport). 2,325 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 79% arrived within 15 minutes and 0.6% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was SkyWest 4801 at 7:52 AM.

Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.

DEN → DSM

Denver to Des Moines: 2,325 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

79%

Cancelled

0.6%

avg delay 15 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

95% on time vs 69% 3 to 6 PM

Most reliable airline

SkyWest

87% chance on time

Check DEN to DSM fares

Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $288 (United 549 on 2026-10-22). Fares open on our travel partner (Aviasales). Pick the flight number you chose here.

Most reliable nonstop flights

Ranked by the chance the flight operates and arrives within 15 minutes of schedule, from Jun 2025 to May 2026 records.

#1 · SkyWest 4801 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
7:52 AM → 10:42 AM1h 50m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as SkyWest 5322; its record covers all of them.
94%
chance on time
On time (history)
96%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
1 min
- Arrived on time 96% of the time (27 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 95% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 69%).
- Departs outside DEN's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Short track record (27 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 27 flights
Find 7:52 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#2 · SkyWest 4772 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
9:45 AM → 12:47 PM2h 01m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
89%
chance on time
On time (history)
89%
Cancelled
0.8%
Avg arrival delay
5 min
- Arrived on time 89% of the time (132 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside DEN's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started).
Moderate track record · 132 flights
Find 9:45 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#3 · SkyWest 5389 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
8:45 PM → 11:42 PM1h 56m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
85%
chance on time
On time (history)
88%
Cancelled
1.9%
Avg arrival delay
14 min
- Arrived on time 88% of the time (208 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside DEN's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 208 flights
Find 8:45 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#4 · United 1311
1:30 PM → 4:15 PM1h 45m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as United 1548; its record covers all of them.
82%
chance on time
On time (history)
83%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
11 min
- Arrived on time 83% of the time (84 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 84 scheduled flights.
- Departs outside DEN's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started).
- 61% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Moderate track record · 84 flights
Find United 1311 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#5 · United 596
9:50 AM → 12:36 PM1h 46m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
82%
chance on time
On time (history)
70%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
13 min
- Arrived on time 70% of the time (10 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside DEN's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Short track record (10 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 10 flights
Find United 596 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#6 · Frontier 1678
4:30 PM → 7:16 PM1h 46m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-29.
77%
chance on time
On time (history)
79%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
13 min
- Arrived on time 79% of the time (149 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 149 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (3 to 6 PM: 69% on time; Before 9 AM: 95%).
- Departs inside DEN's trouble window: 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
Moderate track record · 149 flights
Find Frontier 1678 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#7 · Southwest 1725
10:25 AM → 1:10 PM1h 45m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-30.
75%
chance on time
On time (history)
81%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
6 min
- Arrived on time 81% of the time (47 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 47 scheduled flights.
- Departs outside DEN's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Short track record (47 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 47 flights
Find Southwest 1725 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#8 · Southwest 2474
11:00 AM → 1:40 PM1h 40m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
75%
chance on time
On time (history)
78%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
11 min
- Arrived on time 78% of the time (23 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside DEN's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Short track record (23 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 23 flights
Find Southwest 2474 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#9 · United 549
5:43 PM → 8:34 PM1h 51m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as United 1925; its record covers all of them.
73%
chance on time
On time (history)
76%
Cancelled
0.3%
Avg arrival delay
18 min
- Arrived on time 76% of the time (291 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (3 to 6 PM: 69% on time; Before 9 AM: 95%).
- Departs inside DEN's trouble window: 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
Strong track record · 291 flights
Find United 549 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#10 · Southwest 2404
7:10 PM → 9:55 PM2h 00m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-30.
56%
chance on time
On time (history)
64%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
22 min
- Arrived on time 64% of the time (47 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 47 scheduled flights.
- Departs inside DEN's trouble window: 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
- 51% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Limited track record · 47 flights
Find Southwest 2404 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

SkyWest Airlines (sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska)87%
935 flights · 88% on time as flown · 1.0% cancel
Frontier Airlines78%
149 flights · 79% on time as flown · 0.3% cancel
United Airlines77%
686 flights · 77% on time as flown · 0.3% cancel
Southwest Airlines69%
555 flights · 67% on time as flown · 0.4% cancel

On time by departure time

All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.

Before 9 AM95%
167 flights · avg delay 2 min
9 AM to noon87%
630 flights · avg delay 7 min
Noon to 3 PM88%
373 flights · avg delay 10 min
3 to 6 PM69%
491 flights · avg delay 23 min
6 to 9 PM72%
530 flights · avg delay 23 min
After 9 PM72%
134 flights · avg delay 21 min

Best day: Wednesday (81%). Worst: Friday (74%).

On time by month

All airlines, Jun 2023 to May 2026. Several years per month, so one stormy season doesn't define a month. Travel-month estimates use this seasonal pattern.

What delays this route

Late-arriving aircraft50%
Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)36%
Air traffic control and airport volume11%
Severe weather3%

Share of delay minutes by the cause airlines report to the US DOT.

Historical odds, not a guarantee. Built from the US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics on-time reports (Jun 2025 to May 2026), FAA ground stop and delay program advisories, and 20 years of airport weather observations. Covers US airlines that report to the DOT; schedules are flights operated recently, so confirm times when you book. ATIS Alerts is not affiliated with any airline. Fares are what Aviasales travelers saw in recent searches (USD, one way, 1 adult), not live quotes; the partner site shows the current price. Fare links go to our travel partner and may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Affiliate disclosure

DEN to DSM questions

What time of day is best to fly DEN to DSM?: Before 9 AM: 95% of flights arrived on time, against 69% for departures 3 to 6 PM. Later flights inherit delays from earlier ones, so the first departures of the day usually run best.
Which airline is most on time from DEN to DSM?: SkyWest, with a season-adjusted 87% chance of operating and arriving on time over 935 flights. The adjustment compares each airline with what the route did in the months it flew, so a carrier that skipped a stormy month gets no free credit.
What is the worst month for delays on DEN to DSM?: June (65% on time); the best was October (85%), averaged over Jun 2023 to May 2026.
Is this a prediction for my flight?: No. These are historical odds from the US DOT on-time reports, FAA advisories and airport weather records. Check your flight status and the FAA delay board on the day you fly.

More routes from DEN

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