Route on-time record
DSM to DEN: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport) to Denver (Denver International Airport). 2,325 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 83% arrived within 15 minutes and 0.7% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was SkyWest 5288 at 11:34 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
DSM → DEN
Des Moines to Denver: 2,325 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
83%
Cancelled
0.7%
avg delay 15 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
92% on time vs 64% 6 to 9 PM
Most reliable airline
SkyWest
89% chance on time
Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $396 (United 567 on 2026-10-25). 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 5288 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
11:34 AM → 12:45 PM2h 11m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as SkyWest 5892; 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).
- Short track record (27 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 27 flights
Find 11:34 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · Southwest 2123
6:50 AM → 7:45 AM1h 55m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as Southwest 3555; its record covers all of them.
93%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 95%
- Cancelled
- 2.3%
- Avg arrival delay
- 7 min
- Arrived on time 95% of the time (86 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 92% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 64%).
Moderate track record · 86 flights
Find Southwest 2123 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · SkyWest 4777 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
5:30 AM → 6:42 AM2h 12m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
89%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 90%
- Cancelled
- 1.9%
- Avg arrival delay
- 23 min
- Arrived on time 90% of the time (209 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 92% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 64%).
Strong track record · 209 flights
Find 5:30 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · SkyWest 5266 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
1:32 PM → 2:46 PM2h 14m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
87%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 88%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 7 min
- Arrived on time 88% of the time (97 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 97 scheduled flights.
- Lands inside DEN's trouble window: 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
Moderate track record · 97 flights
Find 1:32 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · United 2764
1:35 PM → 2:42 PM2h 07m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
80%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 80%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 6 min
- Arrived on time 80% of the time (10 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Lands inside DEN's trouble window: 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
- Short track record (10 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 10 flights
Find United 2764 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · United 581
9:00 AM → 10:08 AM2h 08m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-29. Same departure also flew as United 398; its record covers all of them.
76%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 78%
- Cancelled
- 1.5%
- Avg arrival delay
- 17 min
- Arrived on time 78% of the time (328 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
Strong track record · 328 flights
Find United 581 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · United 1521
9:14 AM → 10:20 AM2h 06m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
75%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 100%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 3 min
- Arrived on time 100% of the time (11 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Short track record (11 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 11 flights
Find United 1521 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · Frontier 1677
8:21 PM → 9:26 PM2h 05m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-29.
73%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 75%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 25 min
- Arrived on time 75% of the time (146 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 146 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 64% on time; Before 9 AM: 92%).
Moderate track record · 146 flights
Find Frontier 1677 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#9 · United 1180
9:06 AM → 10:15 AM2h 09m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
73%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 81%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 12 min
- Arrived on time 81% of the time (21 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Short track record (21 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 21 flights
Find United 1180 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#10 · Southwest 1096
7:10 PM → 8:05 PM1h 55m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-30. Same departure also flew as Southwest 245; its record covers all of them.
70%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 71%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 21 min
- Arrived on time 71% of the time (70 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 70 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 64% on time; Before 9 AM: 92%).
Moderate track record · 70 flights
Find Southwest 1096 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)89%
934 flights · 90% on time as flown · 0.7% cancel
- Southwest Airlines85%
555 flights · 85% on time as flown · 0.6% cancel
- Frontier Airlines76%
149 flights · 75% on time as flown · 0.3% cancel
- United Airlines73%
687 flights · 73% on time as flown · 0.8% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM92%
716 flights · avg delay 12 min
- 9 AM to noon83%
542 flights · avg delay 12 min
- Noon to 3 PM90%
510 flights · avg delay 8 min
- 3 to 6 PM66%
413 flights · avg delay 30 min
- 6 to 9 PM64%
144 flights · avg delay 31 min
Best day: Wednesday (84%). Worst: Friday (78%).
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
- Air traffic control and airport volume36%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)31%
- Late-arriving aircraft22%
- Severe weather11%
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 DEN questions
- What time of day is best to fly DSM to DEN?
- Before 9 AM: 92% of flights arrived on time, against 64% for departures 6 to 9 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 DEN?
- SkyWest, with a season-adjusted 89% chance of operating and arriving on time over 934 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 DEN?
- July (72% on time); the best was March (88%), 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
- DEN to DSM (return)
- DSM to ORD 73%
- DSM to DFW 73%
- DSM to ATL 89%
- DSM to PHX 82%
- DSM to CLT 83%
- DSM to DCA 77%
- DSM to LAS 82%
- DSM to STL 90%
- DSM to IAH 90%
- DSM to PHL 80%
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops