DSM → DCADes Moines to Washington

live

Direct flights from Des Moines (DSM) to Washington (DCA): 7 nonstop departures observed each week across 1 airline. 100% of the last 12 operated flights arrived within 15 minutes of schedule. The median arrival is 18 minutes early. No cancellations were recorded across the 12 tracked flights. The nonstop covers 1,441 km, an estimated 2 hours 21 minutes in the air. Measured by Pro Flight Search from live flight boards at Des Moines and Washington. Updated 23 October 2026 at 15:48 UTC.

DSM Des Moines busy · +18
DCA Washington smooth · +0
1,441 km · ~2h 21m est.
dep bank 06:00–14:267x weekly
Runs reliable · 1 airline · 7x weekly · nonstop
100% on time

of the last 12 operated DSM → DCA flights arrived within 15 minutes

Median arrival delay is −18 min. 0 of 12 tracked legs cancelled in the sample. Will a delayed flight be cancelled? →

Median arrival−18 minacross the last 12 operated legs
Flight time~2h 21mestimated from route distance
Weekly departures7x1 direct airline on the leg
Cancelled0.0%recent route rate · 0 of 12

The week

scheduled departures · origin local time
06121824
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
American Airlines

Each mark is a scheduled departure at its origin-local time, observed operating in the last 7 days. Today is highlighted.

Who flies it

observed on the boards · 7 days
American AirlinesAA100% on time

Flights AA5238 06:00 Mo Tu We Th Fr · AA4435 06:02 Su · AA5296 14:26 daily

History

operated legs · board outcomes
10-23AA5238dep +15 → arr−18
10-23AA5296dep +17 → arr−19
10-22AA5238dep +18 → arr−17
10-21AA5238dep +8 → arr−26
10-21AA5296dep +5 → arr−37
10-20AA5238dep +27 → arr+7
10-20AA5296dep +6 → arr−17
10-19AA5238dep +23 → arr−1
10-19AA5296dep +6 → arr−25
10-18AA4435dep +4 → arr−28
10-18AA5296dep +26 → arr−15
10-17AA5296dep +13 → arr−21

Actual board outcomes rather than schedules, paired departure and arrival per flight and day.

Full board history, day by day →

Airports right now

live boards
DSMDes Moines +18 min busy 🌤 mostly cloudy · S 11 kt Full DSM delay board →
DCAWashington +0 min smooth 🌤 scattered clouds · SE 5 kt Full DCA delay board →

Weather lens

Current conditions put the pressure at DSM and DCA: 43% odds of a 15+ minute delay and around +11 min expected when it bites, measured from this route's own weather-matched delay history. See live delays → · Weather risk by airport →

How the Des Moines to Washington route actually runs

Pro Flight Search records official board updates for nonstop DSM to DCA flights through the day: schedules, estimates, gate pushes and actual departures. The verdict above comes from operated flights, so it reflects what this route does rather than what the timetable promises.

Planning around a delay? Live airport delays · Weather delay risk map · Will a delayed flight be cancelled? · Do planes make up time in the air? · How we measure

Cite this data

Journalists, bloggers, and researchers may cite this page with attribution and a link to Pro Flight Search.

Suggested citation

Pro Flight Search — Des Moines (DSM) to Washington (DCA) route reliability, measured from operated flights on official airport boards.

Canonical URL
https://proflightsearch.com/search-flights/DSM-DCA
How we measure this →

DSM to DCA questions

Is DSM–DCA running on time right now?

Smooth skies ahead. The departure side at DSM is the weaker end, route health score 88/100. The airports section above carries the live status and delay window at both ends.

Morning or evening flight on DSM–DCA?

Operators schedule morning departures around 06:00 from DSM. Earlier flights typically land before destination-airport delays accumulate later in the day; check the DCA delay card to confirm conditions when you'd arrive.

How long is the flight from DSM to DCA?

Great-circle distance is 1,441 km. With typical jet cruise speed plus taxi, climb and descent, expect roughly 132–154 min gate-to-gate on this route.

How often does DSM–DCA fly?

American Airlines runs the route with about 13 flights a week (daily). Since one carrier owns the route, a single disruption tends to ripple through the day.