Best Time to Fly MDW to DSM: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Chicago Midway International → Des Moines International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 71.9% of Chicago (MDW) to Des Moines (DSM) flights arrived on time (290 scheduled flights). That is 5.7 points below the national average of 77.6%.
Southwest Airlines was the only reporting airline with regular flights on this route.
May has been the best month (79% on time) and Thursday the weakest day of the week (63%).
1.4% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
MDW to DSM on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 71.9% | 64 min | 1.4% | 290 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly MDW to DSM
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 290 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10am–11am | 88.4% | 1.4% | 148 |
| 11am–12pm | Limited data | 1 | |
| 6pm–7pm | Limited data | 1 | |
| 8pm–9pm | Limited data | 27 | |
| 9pm–10pm | 52.0% | 1.4% | 74 |
| 10pm–11pm | 43.2% | 2.6% | 39 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on MDW to DSM
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 66.7% | -7.8 pts | 0.0% | 94 |
| All other days | 74.5% | — | 2.0% | 196 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).