Best Time to Fly DSM to IAH: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Des Moines International → George Bush Intercontinental/Houston
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 89.4% of Des Moines (DSM) to Houston (IAH) flights arrived on time (346 scheduled flights). That is 11.8 points above the national average of 77.6%.
United Airlines was the only reporting airline with regular flights on this route.
October has been the best month (93% on time) and Thursday the weakest day of the week (86%).
1.4% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
DSM to IAH 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 89.4% | 80 min | 1.4% | 345 |
| SkyWest Airlines | Limited data | 1 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DSM to IAH
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 634 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | Limited data | 1 | |
| 6am–7am | 90.5% | 0.9% | 320 |
| 7am–8am | 88.9% | 4.2% | 48 |
| 8am–9am | 87.5% | 1.6% | 252 |
| 2pm–3pm | Limited data | 3 | |
| 3pm–4pm | Limited data | 10 | |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on DSM to IAH
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | Limited data | 11 | ||
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | Limited data | 1 | ||
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 88.7% | -0.3 pts | 0.8% | 125 |
| All other days | 89.0% | — | 1.2% | 497 |
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).