DSM → LAXDes Moines to Los Angeles

live

Direct flights from Des Moines (DSM) to Los Angeles (LAX): 7 nonstop departures observed each week across 1 airline. 71% of the last 7 operated flights arrived within 15 minutes of schedule. The median arrival is 3 minutes late. No cancellations were recorded across the 7 tracked flights. The nonstop covers 2,324 km, an estimated 3 hours 29 minutes in the air. Measured by Pro Flight Search from live flight boards at Des Moines and Los Angeles. Updated 14 September 2026 at 03:55 UTC.

DSM Des Moines busy · +15
LAX Los Angeles smooth · +0
2,324 km · ~3h 29m est.
dep bank 18:48–18:577x weekly
Runs mixed · 1 airline · 7x weekly · nonstop
71% on time

of the last 7 operated DSM → LAX flights arrived within 15 minutes

Median arrival delay is +3 min. 0 of 7 tracked legs cancelled in the sample. Will a delayed flight be cancelled? →

Median arrival+3 minacross the last 7 operated legs
Flight time~3h 29mestimated from route distance
Weekly departures7x1 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 AirlinesAA71% on time

Flights AA4971 18:48 daily · AA6409 18:57 We Th Fr Sa Su

History

operated legs · board outcomes
09-13AA6409dep +13 → arr+3
09-12AA6409dep +8 → arr−20
09-11AA6409dep +54 → arr+30
09-10AA6409dep +17 → arr−26
09-09AA6409dep +9 → arr+8
09-08AA4971dep +149 → arr+111
09-07AA4971dep +13 → arr−16

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 +15 min busy 🌤 overcast · E 3 kt Full DSM delay board →
LAXLos Angeles +0 min smooth 🌤 few clouds · WSW 5 kt Full LAX delay board →

Weather lens

Current conditions put the pressure at DSM: 43% odds of a 15+ minute delay and around +12 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 Los Angeles route actually runs

Pro Flight Search records official board updates for nonstop DSM to LAX 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 Los Angeles (LAX) route reliability, measured from operated flights on official airport boards.

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

DSM to LAX questions

Is DSM–LAX running on time right now?

Smooth skies ahead. The departure side at DSM is the weaker end, route health score 90/100. The airports section above carries the live status and delay window at both ends.

Morning or evening flight on DSM–LAX?

Operators schedule evening departures around 18:48 from DSM. Earlier flights typically land before destination-airport delays accumulate later in the day; check the LAX delay card to confirm conditions when you'd arrive.

How long is the flight from DSM to LAX?

Great-circle distance is 2,324 km. With typical jet cruise speed plus taxi, climb and descent, expect roughly 194–229 min gate-to-gate on this route.

How often does DSM–LAX fly?

American Airlines runs the route with about 12 flights a week (daily). Since one carrier owns the route, a single disruption tends to ripple through the day.