DSM → DCADes Moines to Washington

live

Direct flights from Des Moines (DSM) to Washington (DCA): 16 nonstop departures observed each week across 1 airline. 100% of the last 8 tracked flights arrived within 15 minutes of schedule. The median arrival is 27 minutes early. No cancellations were recorded across the 8 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 5 November 2026 at 20:18 UTC.

DSM Des Moines smooth · +13
DCA Washington smooth · +0
1,441 km · ~2h 21m est.
dep bank 06:00–14:2616x weekly
Runs reliable · 1 airline · 16x weekly · nonstop
100% on time

of the last 8 tracked DSM → DCA flights arrived within 15 minutes

Median arrival delay is −27 min. 0 of 8 tracked legs cancelled in the sample. Will a delayed flight be cancelled? →

Median arrival−27 minacross the last 8 arrivals
Flight time~2h 21mestimated from route distance
Weekly departures16x1 direct airline on the leg

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 · AA5476 06:00 Mo Tu We Th · AA5296 14:26 daily

History

operated legs · board outcomes
11-05AA5476dep +14 → arr+14
11-04AA5476dep +2 → arr+5
11-03AA5476dep +10 → arr−27
11-02AA5476dep +8 → arr−33
11-01AA4698dep +28 → arr−6
10-31AA5296dep −1 → arr−43
10-30AA5238dep +6 → arr−31
10-30AA5296dep +9 → arr−35

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 +13 min smooth 🌫 overcast · NNE 7 kt Full DSM delay board →
DCAWashington +0 min smooth 🌤 overcast · S 6 kt Full DCA delay board →

Weather lens

Conditions are tightest at DSM: a 40% chance of a 15+ minute delay. In this weather, the more delayed of the two airports is typically about +14 min. Both figures come from the two airports' delay records in similar weather. 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?

Mostly on schedule. The departure side at DSM is the weaker end, route health score 75/100. 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 16 flights a week (daily). Since one carrier owns the route, a single disruption tends to ripple through the day.