Route on-time record
DSM to STL: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport) to St Louis (St. Louis Lambert International Airport). 516 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 90% arrived within 15 minutes and 0.6% were cancelled.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
DSM → STL
Des Moines to St Louis: 516 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
90%
Cancelled
0.6%
avg delay 8 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
96% on time vs 76% 6 to 9 PM
Most reliable airline
Southwest
89% 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.
None of this route’s recently flown flight numbers operated on that weekday. Try another date, or see the airlines and times below.
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- Southwest Airlines89%
516 flights · 90% on time as flown · 0.6% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM96%
272 flights · avg delay 5 min
- 3 to 6 PM87%
147 flights · avg delay 8 min
- 6 to 9 PM76%
97 flights · avg delay 13 min
Best day: Tuesday (91%). Worst: Sunday (80%).
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 aircraft35%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)26%
- Air traffic control and airport volume23%
- Severe weather16%
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 STL questions
- What time of day is best to fly DSM to STL?
- Before 9 AM: 96% of flights arrived on time, against 76% 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 STL?
- Southwest, with a season-adjusted 89% chance of operating and arriving on time over 516 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 STL?
- July (81% on time); the best was November (91%), 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
- STL 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 DCA 77%
- DSM to LAS 82%
- DSM to IAH 90%
- DSM to PHL 80%
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops