79% of flights from Des Moines to Detroit arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is about the typical U.S. route. The 6 a.m. departures ran on time 85% of the time; the 5 p.m. ones 72%. 12% of flights arrived more than an hour late or not at all.
How late?
The on-time rate treats a flight 20 minutes late the same as one 5 hours late. Here's the split for DSM → DTW: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 41% of the time. About 1 in 10 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 28 three hours or more; 1.9% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early79%
- 15–30 min late5.4%
- 30–60 min late4.2%
- 1–2 hours late4.2%
- 2–3 hours late2.1%
- 3+ hours late3.5%
- Diverted0.0%
- Cancelled1.9%
Share of all 1,015 scheduled flights, past 12 months, by arrival time against schedule.
By airline
| Airline | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | 1h+ late | Avg when late | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 1,015 | 79% | 1.9% | −12 min | 9.9% | +115 min | Endeavor Air 98%, SkyWest 2%, Republic Airways 0% |
Airline = the name on the ticket. Regional flights (e.g. "Delta Connection") count under the ticketing airline, and the operator is listed.
Best time of day to fly
On-time rate by scheduled departure hour (local time at DSM). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
Last flight of the day
On DSM → DTW, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 1.1% of the time, against 2.3% for its earlier flights, so here the last flight is actually the safer one. It arrived 3+ hours late 3.1% of the time (earlier flights: 3.9%). It matters more than the numbers suggest. Miss an earlier flight and there's another one that evening; miss the last one and you're usually waiting until morning.
| Airline | Last departure | Last: cancelled | Last: 3h+ late | Earlier: cancelled | Next morning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 5:32 p.m. | 1.1% | 3.1% | 2.3% | first flight 6:00 a.m. |
Last flight = the airline's last scheduled departure on this route that day, on days it flies the route at least twice; past 12 months. Times are typical scheduled times over the latest three months.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: October (93%). Worst: July (77%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 157 | 77% | 3.2% |
| Tuesday | 145 | 77% | 2.8% |
| Wednesday | 141 | 81% | 0.7% |
| Thursday | 147 | 82% | 1.4% |
| Friday | 151 | 76% | 0.7% |
| Saturday | 122 | 81% | 0.8% |
| Sunday | 152 | 76% | 3.3% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: airline 7 · air traffic/airport 7 · weather 5
Month by month
Not enough months with data to draw a trend.
Flight numbers on this route
Regular flights with at least 120 scheduled trips in the past year. Sorted by departure time.
| Flight | Departs | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL 5414 | 6:00 a.m. | 365 | 85% | 1.6% | −13 min | Endeavor Air |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 9, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Nov 30, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 2 |
| Dec 30, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 1 |
| Dec 2, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Nov 29, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
Questions
How often are flights from DSM to DTW on time?
79% of 1,015 scheduled flights from Des Moines, IA to Detroit, MI arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.9% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly DSM to DTW?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (85% on time). The 5 p.m. departures were the least (72%).
What month has the most delays from DSM to DTW?
July (77% on time). The best month is October (93%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from DSM to DTW more likely to be cancelled?
No, the opposite. Each airline's last DSM–DTW flight of the day was cancelled 1.1% of the time over the past year, against 2.3% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- DTW → DSM (return)
- Des Moines (DSM) delays by hour
- Flights into Detroit Metro (DTW)
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- Connecting off this flight? Check the risk
Domestic flights by the airlines that report to the U.S. DOT, plus their regional partners. "On time" means arriving less than 15 minutes after schedule; cancelled and diverted flights count as not on time. Past performance is a guide, not a forecast. Method.