Route on-time record
DSM to DCA: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport) to Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport). 701 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 77% arrived within 15 minutes and 5.4% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was PSA 5414 at 6:00 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
DSM → DCA
Des Moines to Washington: 701 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
77%
Cancelled
5.4%
avg delay 20 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
85% on time vs 63% 3 to 6 PM
Most reliable airline
PSA
75% chance on time
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 · PSA 5414 · sold as American Eagle
6:00 AM → 9:30 AM2h 30m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
81%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 87%
- Cancelled
- 6.7%
- Avg arrival delay
- 12 min
- Arrived on time 87% of the time (126 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 6.7% of the time (9 of 135).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 85% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 63%).
Moderate track record · 126 flights
Find 6:00 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · PSA 5645 · sold as American Eagle
6:33 AM → 10:07 AM2h 37m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
78%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 80%
- Cancelled
- 6.8%
- Avg arrival delay
- 47 min
- Arrived on time 80% of the time (41 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 6.8% of the time (3 of 44).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 85% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 63%).
- Short track record (41 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 41 flights
Find 6:33 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · Republic 4713 · sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express
1:25 PM → 4:59 PM2h 34m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
70%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 81%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 11 min
- Arrived on time 81% of the time (37 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 38 scheduled flights.
- Lands inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- 63% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Limited track record · 37 flights
Find 1:25 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · PSA 5388 · sold as American Eagle
1:48 PM → 5:19 PM2h 31m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
64%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 61%
- Cancelled
- 6.5%
- Avg arrival delay
- 37 min
- Arrived on time 61% of the time (57 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 6.5% of the time (4 of 62).
- Lands inside DCA's trouble window: 63% of its 194 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- 72% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Limited track record · 57 flights
Find 1:48 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- PSA Airlines (sold as American Eagle)75%
334 flights · 78% on time as flown · 5.0% cancel
- Envoy Air (sold as American Eagle)74%
66 flights · 80% on time as flown · 6.1% cancel
- Republic Airways (sold as American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express)70%
300 flights · 74% on time as flown · 5.6% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM85%
345 flights · avg delay 16 min
- Noon to 3 PM73%
198 flights · avg delay 24 min
- 3 to 6 PM63%
154 flights · avg delay 25 min
Best day: Thursday (83%). Worst: Friday (77%).
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 aircraft38%
- Severe weather24%
- Air traffic control and airport volume19%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)18%
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
DSM to DCA questions
- What time of day is best to fly DSM to DCA?
- Before 9 AM: 85% of flights arrived on time, against 63% 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 DSM to DCA?
- PSA, with a season-adjusted 75% chance of operating and arriving on time over 334 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 DSM to DCA?
- January (72% on time); the best was April (89%), 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 DSM
- DCA to DSM (return)
- DSM to ORD 73%
- DSM to DEN 83%
- DSM to DFW 73%
- DSM to ATL 89%
- DSM to PHX 82%
- DSM to CLT 83%
- DSM to LAS 82%
- DSM to STL 90%
- DSM to IAH 90%
- DSM to PHL 80%
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops