Southwest AirlinesWN62% on time
Flights WN1727 05:40 Mo Th Fr · WN1715 varies Tu We Sa Su · WN487 12:10 Sa · WN379 14:40 Tu We
live
Direct flights from Des Moines (DSM) to Chicago (MDW): 7 nonstop departures observed each week across 1 airline. 64% of the last 14 operated flights arrived within 15 minutes of schedule. The median arrival is 12 minutes early. No cancellations were recorded across the 14 tracked flights. The nonstop covers 492 km, an estimated 1 hour 8 minutes in the air. Measured by Pro Flight Search from live flight boards at Des Moines and Chicago. Updated 19 September 2026 at 01:38 UTC.
DSM
Des Moines
smooth · +14
MDW
Chicago
busy · +19
492 km · ~1h 08m est.
Runs mixed · 1 airline · 7x weekly · nonstop
64% on time
of the last 14 operated DSM → MDW flights arrived within 15 minutes
Median arrival delay is −12 min. 0 of 14 tracked legs cancelled in the sample. Will a delayed flight be cancelled? →
Median arrival−12 minacross the last 14 operated legs
Flight time~1h 08mestimated from route distance
Weekly departures7x1 direct airline on the leg
Cancelled0.0%recent route rate · 0 of 14
The week
scheduled departures · origin local time06121824
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Southwest 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 daysHistory
operated legs · board outcomes09-181I489dep −47 → arr−59
Actual board outcomes rather than schedules, paired departure and arrival per flight and day.
Full board history, day by day →
Airports right now
live boardsWeather lens
Current conditions put the pressure at DSM and MDW: 45% odds of a 15+ minute delay and around +13 min expected when it bites, measured from this route's own weather-matched delay history. See live delays → · Weather risk by airport →
next sweep in 120s
How the Des Moines to Chicago route actually runs
Pro Flight Search records official board updates for nonstop DSM to MDW 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 Chicago (MDW) route reliability, measured from operated flights on official airport boards.
Canonical URL
How we measure this →
https://proflightsearch.com/search-flights/DSM-MDW
DSM to MDW questions
Is DSM–MDW running on time right now?
Mostly on schedule. The arrival side at MDW 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–MDW?
Operators schedule morning departures around 05:40 from DSM. Earlier flights typically land before destination-airport delays accumulate later in the day; check the MDW delay card to confirm conditions when you'd arrive.
How long is the flight from DSM to MDW?
Great-circle distance is 492 km. With typical jet cruise speed plus taxi, climb and descent, expect roughly 65–72 min gate-to-gate on this route.
How often does DSM–MDW fly?
Southwest 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.
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