72% of flights from Des Moines to New York arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. Most reliable airline: American Airlines (80%). 16% 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 → LGA: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 38% of the time. About 1 in 8 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 29 three hours or more; 3.9% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early72%
- 15–30 min late4.3%
- 30–60 min late7.2%
- 1–2 hours late5.4%
- 2–3 hours late3.3%
- 3+ hours late3.5%
- Diverted0.1%
- Cancelled3.9%
Share of all 720 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 | 459 | 68% | 4.8% | −10 min | 15.7% | +122 min | Endeavor Air |
| American Airlines | 261 | 80% | 2.3% | −11 min | 6.1% | +74 min | Republic Airways |
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.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Delta Air Lines | American Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| 7 a.m. | 67% | 80% |
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: April (86%). Worst: July (69%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 119 | 66% | 6.7% |
| Tuesday | 117 | 74% | 5.1% |
| Wednesday | 118 | 82% | 0.9% |
| Thursday | 116 | 64% | 2.6% |
| Friday | 116 | 78% | 2.6% |
| Saturday | 53 | — | — |
| Sunday | 81 | — | — |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: air traffic/airport 12 · weather 9 · airline 7
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA 4795 | 7:11 a.m. | 261 | 80% | 2.3% | −11 min | Republic Airways |
| DL 4945 | 7:15 a.m. | 356 | 69% | 4.8% | −11 min | Endeavor Air |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 13, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Sep 25, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Nov 10, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Nov 6, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Dec 18, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 1 |
Questions
How often are flights from DSM to LGA on time?
72% of 720 scheduled flights from Des Moines, IA to New York, NY arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 3.9% were cancelled.
Which airline is most on time from DSM to LGA?
American Airlines: 80% of its 261 flights on the route arrived on time. Delta Air Lines: 68%.
What month has the most delays from DSM to LGA?
July (69% on time). The best month is April (86%), over 2023–2026.
Related
- LGA → DSM (return)
- Des Moines (DSM) delays by hour
- Flights into LaGuardia (LGA)
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- American Airlines 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.