US airlines landed 76.42% of flights on time in 2025, and 21.78% of flights, about 1.69 million, arrived 15 or more minutes late. From January to July 2026, 75.1% of flights arrived on time and 2.31% were cancelled, with July 2026 the weakest month at 69.5% on time.
Flight Delay in America 2026 – Introduction
Flight delay statistics tell a clear story for 2026. About one US flight in five arrives late, and cancellations are rising. The Department of Transportation counts a flight as on time when it reaches the gate less than 15 minutes after schedule. By that rule, 76.42% of 2025 flights qualified, down from 78.10% in 2024. Winter Storm Fern pushed the January 2026 cancellation rate to 4.82%, and July 2026 landed within 0.3 points of the worst month of 2025.
This report breaks the numbers down for American travelers. It covers national on-time and cancellation rates, monthly swings, airline rankings, delay causes, the airports with the weakest records, and the best hours to fly. Every figure comes from DOT, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, or analysis of BTS data, and the tables run through July 2026. The data also show where the system strains: Northeast hubs, summer afternoons, and late evening departures.
Interesting Facts About Flight Delay Statistics in 2026
US FLIGHT OUTCOMES IN 2025 (each █ = 4 percentage points)
On time ███████████████████ 76.42%
Late █████ 21.78%
Cancelled ▏ 1.53%
| Fact | 2026 Data |
|---|---|
| 2025 on-time arrival rate | 76.42% |
| 2025 late flights (15+ minutes) | 21.78%, about 1.69 million flights |
| 2025 cancellation rate | 1.53% |
| January to July 2026 on-time rate | 75.1% |
| January to July 2026 cancellation rate | 2.31% |
| Worst month of 2026 so far | July 2026, 69.5% on time |
| Top airline in 2025 | Hawaiian Airlines, 81.95% |
| Lowest airline in 2025 | PSA Airlines, 68.96% |
| Average late arrival in 2025 | 74.0 minutes |
| Biggest delay cause in 2025 | Late-arriving aircraft, 40.0% |
Source: US Department of Transportation, Air Travel Consumer Report (February and September 2026); Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Airline On-Time Statistics and Delay Causes; AirAdvisor analysis of BTS data.
The table sets the national baseline. In 2025, 76.42% of flights arrived on time, 21.78% arrived late, and 1.53% were cancelled. A late flight ran 74.0 minutes behind schedule on average. Late-arriving aircraft caused 40.0% of all delay minutes, more than any other cause.
The 2026 numbers point the wrong way. The on-time rate fell to 75.1% from January to July, and cancellations rose to 2.31%. July 2026 was the worst month at 69.5%. Among airlines, Hawaiian Airlines led 2025 at 81.95%, while PSA Airlines trailed at 68.96%.
Flight Delay Statistics in the US 2026: On-Time Rate and Cancellation Trends
CANCELLATION RATE (each █ = 0.25 percentage points)
2025 full year ██████ 1.53%
Jan-Jul 2025 ███████ 1.72%
Jan-Jul 2026 █████████ 2.31%
| Period | On-Time Rate | Cancellation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 full year | 76.42% | 1.53% |
| January to July 2025 | 75.5% | 1.72% |
| January to July 2026 | 75.1% | 2.31% |
| Change, January to July | 0.4 points lower | 0.59 points higher |
Source: US Department of Transportation, Air Travel Consumer Report (February and September 2026); BTS Airline On-Time Statistics and Delay Causes.
DOT reported a 76.42% on-time rate for 2025, which sits 1.68 points below the 78.10% of 2024. Cancellations ran at 1.53% for the full year. A further 0.27% of flights diverted.
Early 2026 looks weaker. From January to July, 75.1% of flights arrived on time, against 75.5% in the same months of 2025. Cancellations rose to 2.31% from 1.72%. A harsh January drove much of that increase, because Winter Storm Fern lifted the January cancellation rate to 4.82%.
Flight Delays by Month 2026: Worst Months for US Air Travel
ON-TIME ARRIVALS BY MONTH (each █ = 1 point above 60%)
Aug 2025 ████████████████ 76.3%
Sep 2025 ██████████████████████ 82.8%
Dec 2025 ████████████ 71.9%
Jan 2026 ███████████████ 75.3%
Mar 2026 █████████████ 73.2%
Jun 2026 █████████████ 72.8%
Jul 2026 █████████ 69.4%
| Month | On-Time Arrivals | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|
| August 2025 | 76.3% | 1.1% |
| September 2025 | 82.8% | 0.5% |
| December 2025 | 71.9% | 1.5% |
| January 2026 | 75.3% | 4.7% |
| March 2026 | 73.2% | 2.9% |
| June 2026 | 72.8% | 1.6% |
| July 2026 | 69.4% | 2.6% |
Source: FlyingOver analysis of Bureau of Transportation Statistics on-time data, August 2025 to July 2026.
September 2025 was the calm month, with 82.8% on time, the best figure in the table, and only 0.5% cancelled. August 2025 followed at 76.3% on time and 1.1% cancelled. December 2025 dropped to 71.9% on time with 1.5% cancelled.
Winter and summer hit hardest in 2026. January posted 75.3% on time but a 4.7% cancellation rate, the highest in the table. March fell to 73.2% with 2.9% cancelled. June reached 72.8%, and July sank to 69.4% with 2.6% cancelled. These monthly figures come from flight-level BTS data, so they differ from DOT headline figures by a few tenths of a point.
Flight Delay Statistics by Airline 2026: Most On-Time US Carriers
2025 ON-TIME ARRIVALS BY AIRLINE (each █ = 1 point above 60%)
Hawaiian ██████████████████████ 81.95%
Delta ███████████████████ 79.12%
Southwest ██████████████████ 77.76%
United ██████████████████ 77.65%
American █████████████ 72.70%
JetBlue ████████████ 72.34%
Frontier ███████████ 70.68%
PSA █████████ 68.96%
| Airline (2025) | On-Time Arrival Rate | Cancellation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaiian Airlines | 81.95% | 0.82% |
| Delta Air Lines | 79.12% | 1.08% |
| Southwest Airlines | 77.76% | 0.85% |
| United Airlines | 77.65% | 0.82% |
| American Airlines | 72.70% | 1.82% |
| JetBlue Airways | 72.34% | 1.65% |
| Frontier Airlines | 70.68% | 1.77% |
| PSA Airlines | 68.96% | 4.58% |
Source: US Department of Transportation, Air Travel Consumer Report, February 2026, Table 1D; AirAdvisor analysis of BTS data.
Hawaiian Airlines led the 2025 operating-carrier table at 81.95% on time with 0.82% cancelled. Delta Air Lines followed at 79.12% and 1.08%. Southwest posted 77.76% and 0.85%, and United posted 77.65% and 0.82%.
The bottom of the table shows the gap. American Airlines recorded 72.70% on time and 1.82% cancelled. JetBlue logged 72.34% and 1.65%, and Frontier logged 70.68% and 1.77%. PSA Airlines finished last at 68.96%, with the highest cancellation rate at 4.58%. Network rankings for January to July 2026 put Alaska first at 79.6% and Delta second at 78.1%, while Southwest fell to 73.7% and JetBlue to 68.5%. Alaska’s figure now includes Hawaiian-branded flights, so it does not compare cleanly with 2025.
Flight Delay Statistics 2026: How Late Is a Late Flight by Airline
AVERAGE MINUTES PER LATE ARRIVAL IN 2025 (each █ = 5 minutes)
PSA ██████████████████ 91.1
Frontier █████████████████ 84.4
American █████████████████ 83.3
Delta ███████████████ 73.3
United ██████████████ 72.5
Southwest ███████████ 57.0
Hawaiian ███████████ 53.0
Alaska ██████████ 51.4
| Airline (2025) | Flights Arriving 15+ Minutes Late | Average Minutes per Late Arrival |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaiian Airlines | 17.12% | 53.0 |
| Delta Air Lines | 19.53% | 73.3 |
| Southwest Airlines | 21.16% | 57.0 |
| United Airlines | 21.23% | 72.5 |
| Alaska Airlines | 22.76% | 51.4 |
| American Airlines | 25.16% | 83.3 |
| PSA Airlines | 26.21% | 91.1 |
| Frontier Airlines | 27.37% | 84.4 |
Source: AirAdvisor calculation from Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Airline On-Time Statistics and Delay Causes, 2025.
An on-time rate shows how often a flight runs late, not how long. Hawaiian Airlines had the lowest late share in 2025 at 17.12%, and its late flights averaged 53.0 minutes. Delta followed at 19.53% and 73.3 minutes. Southwest posted 21.16% late with 57.0 minutes, and United posted 21.23% with 72.5 minutes.
Alaska Airlines shows the split best. It arrived late on 22.76% of flights, yet its late flights averaged only 51.4 minutes, the shortest of the group. American recorded 25.16% and 83.3 minutes. PSA Airlines averaged 91.1 minutes per late arrival, the longest, on a 26.21% late share. Frontier had the highest late share at 27.37% and averaged 84.4 minutes.
Flight Delay Statistics 2025 vs 2019: Are US Flights Later in 2026?
SHARE OF FLIGHTS ARRIVING 15+ MINUTES LATE (each █ = 1 percentage point)
2019 ███████████████████ 18.88%
2025 ██████████████████████ 21.78%
| Metric | Earlier Year | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late-arrival share | 18.88% (2019) | 21.78% | 2.90 points higher |
| Average late arrival | 69.7 minutes (2019) | 74.0 minutes | 4.3 minutes longer |
| Average late arrival | 72.2 minutes (2024) | 74.0 minutes | 1.8 minutes longer |
| Total arrival delay | 110.5 million minutes (2024) | 124.7 million minutes | 12.9% higher |
| On-time rate | 78.10% (2024) | 76.42% | 1.68 points lower |
Source: AirAdvisor calculation from Bureau of Transportation Statistics data, 2019 to 2025; US Department of Transportation, Air Travel Consumer Report, February 2026.
Late flights are more common than before the pandemic. The late-arrival share rose from 18.88% in 2019 to 21.78% in 2025, a gain of 2.90 points. The average late flight stretched from 69.7 minutes to 74.0 minutes, which is 4.3 minutes longer. Against 2024, the average grew by 1.8 minutes from 72.2.
Total delay grew faster than traffic. US carriers logged 124.7 million minutes of arrival delay in 2025, up 12.9% from 110.5 million in 2024, while scheduled flights rose 2.5%. The on-time rate slid 1.68 points, from 78.10% to 76.42%. Those numbers frame the 2026 start, at 75.1% on time.
Flight Delay Causes 2026: Why US Flights Arrive Late
SHARE OF DELAY MINUTES IN 2025 (each █ = 2 percentage points)
Late-arriving aircraft ████████████████████ 40.0%
Airline operations ████████████████ 31.8%
National Aviation System ███████████ 21.6%
Extreme weather ███ 6.5%
Security ▏ 0.1%
| Delay Cause | 2025 Share of Delay Minutes | August 2025 to July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Late-arriving aircraft | 40.0% | 39.7% |
| Airline operations | 31.8% | 33.3% |
| National Aviation System | 21.6% | 20.7% |
| Extreme weather | 6.5% | 6.1% |
| Security | 0.1% | 0.1% |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Airline On-Time Statistics and Delay Causes, 2025; FlyingOver analysis of BTS data, August 2025 to July 2026.
Late-arriving aircraft cause the most delay. They accounted for 40.0% of delay minutes in 2025 and 39.7% from August 2025 to July 2026. A plane that lands late usually departs late on its next trip, so one delay spreads across the day. That 40.0% share equals roughly 49.9 million of the 124.7 million delay minutes logged in 2025.
Airline operations came second at 31.8% in 2025 and rose to 33.3% in the latest twelve months. That category covers crew, maintenance, cleaning, fueling, and baggage. The National Aviation System, which includes air traffic control and heavy traffic, held 21.6% and then 20.7%. Extreme weather accounted for 6.5% and 6.1%, and security stayed at 0.1%.
Worst Airports for Flight Delays 2026: On-Time Rankings for Major US Hubs
ON-TIME ARRIVALS, AUG 2025 TO JUL 2026 (each █ = 1 point above 60%)
Salt Lake City ████████████████████████ 84.2%
Atlanta █████████████████████ 80.7%
Chicago O'Hare ███████████ 71.2%
Fort Lauderdale ██████████ 70.1%
LaGuardia █████████ 68.9%
Washington DCA █████████ 68.8%
San Francisco ███████ 67.2%
| Airport | On-Time Arrivals | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco (SFO) | 67.2% | 1.0% |
| Washington National (DCA) | 68.8% | 3.6% |
| New York LaGuardia (LGA) | 68.9% | 4.6% |
| Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | 70.1% | 2.4% |
| Chicago O’Hare (ORD) | 71.2% | 2.8% |
| Atlanta (ATL) | 80.7% | 1.8% |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 84.2% | 0.8% |
Source: FlyingOver analysis of Bureau of Transportation Statistics on-time data for the 30 busiest US airports, August 2025 to July 2026.
San Francisco ranked last among the 30 busiest airports, with 67.2% of arrivals on time. Washington National (68.8%) and LaGuardia (68.9%) sat just above it. LaGuardia also cancelled 4.6% of flights, the highest rate of any of the 30, and DCA cancelled 3.6%.
Fort Lauderdale posted 70.1% and Chicago O’Hare 71.2%, with O’Hare cancelling 2.8%. Salt Lake City led the nation at 84.2% with 0.8% cancelled, and Atlanta reached 80.7% with 1.8% cancelled.
Flight Cancellation Statistics 2026: Airports With the Highest Cancellation Rates
CANCELLATION RATE, AUG 2025 TO JUL 2026 (each █ = 0.25 percentage points)
LaGuardia ██████████████████ 4.6%
Washington DCA ██████████████ 3.6%
New York JFK ██████████████ 3.5%
Newark ████████████ 3.1%
Dallas/Fort W. ███████████ 2.8%
Chicago O'Hare ███████████ 2.8%
Boston ███████████ 2.8%
Philadelphia ███████████ 2.7%
| Airport | Cancellation Rate | On-Time Arrivals |
|---|---|---|
| LaGuardia (LGA) | 4.6% | 68.9% |
| Washington National (DCA) | 3.6% | 68.8% |
| New York JFK | 3.5% | 74.8% |
| Newark (EWR) | 3.1% | 74.5% |
| Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) | 2.8% | 74.9% |
| Chicago O’Hare (ORD) | 2.8% | 71.2% |
| Boston (BOS) | 2.8% | 71.2% |
| Philadelphia (PHL) | 2.7% | 74.8% |
Source: FlyingOver analysis of Bureau of Transportation Statistics on-time data for the 30 busiest US airports, August 2025 to July 2026.
Cancellations cluster in the Northeast corridor. LaGuardia cancelled 4.6% of flights from August 2025 to July 2026, the highest rate among the 30 busiest airports, and its on-time arrival rate was 68.9%. Washington National cancelled 3.6% with 68.8% on time. JFK cancelled 3.5% and Newark 3.1%, with on-time arrivals of 74.8% and 74.5%.
Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago O’Hare both cancelled 2.8%. DFW arrived on time 74.9% of the time, and O’Hare 71.2%. Boston matched the 2.8% cancellation rate with 71.2% on time. Philadelphia cancelled 2.7% with 74.8% on time. For comparison, the national cancellation rate was 1.53% in 2025 and 2.31% from January to July 2026.
Flight Delays in July 2026: Summer Peak at Major US Airports
JULY 2026 ON-TIME ARRIVALS (each █ = 1 point above 50%)
Salt Lake City ███████████████████████████████ 81.2%
Minneapolis ███████████████████████████ 76.6%
Chicago O'Hare ████████████████████ 70.1%
Boston ████████████ 62.4%
New York JFK █████████ 58.6%
LaGuardia █████████ 58.6%
Washington DCA ████████ 58.1%
San Francisco ██ 51.9%
| Airport | 12-Month On-Time Arrivals | July 2026 On-Time Arrivals | Drop in July |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 84.2% | 81.2% | 3.0 points |
| Minneapolis (MSP) | 80.2% | 76.6% | 3.6 points |
| Chicago O’Hare (ORD) | 71.2% | 70.1% | 1.1 points |
| Boston (BOS) | 71.2% | 62.4% | 8.8 points |
| New York JFK | 74.8% | 58.6% | 16.2 points |
| LaGuardia (LGA) | 68.9% | 58.6% | 10.3 points |
| Washington National (DCA) | 68.8% | 58.1% | 10.7 points |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 67.2% | 51.9% | 15.3 points |
Source: FlyingOver analysis of Bureau of Transportation Statistics on-time data, August 2025 to July 2026.
July tested every hub. Salt Lake City held up best, with 81.2% of arrivals on time against its 84.2% twelve-month mark, a drop of 3.0 points. Minneapolis fell 3.6 points to 76.6%. Chicago O’Hare slipped only 1.1 points to 70.1%, even though it started from a lower base of 71.2%.
The Northeast and the Bay Area suffered the steepest declines. Boston dropped 8.8 points to 62.4%. LaGuardia fell 10.3 points to 58.6%, and Washington National fell 10.7 points to 58.1%. JFK lost 16.2 points and also landed at 58.6%. San Francisco fell 15.3 points to 51.9%, the lowest July figure of any of the 30 busiest airports.
Best Time to Fly in 2026: Flight Delay Statistics by Departure Hour
ON-TIME DEPARTURES BY HOUR (each █ = 2 points above 50%)
6-7 a.m. ████████████████████ 90.3%
8-9 a.m. ██████████████████ 86.4%
12-1 p.m. █████████████ 76.4%
4-5 p.m. █████████ 68.4%
8-9 p.m. ███████ 63.5%
11 p.m.-12 █████████████ 75.8%
| Scheduled Departure | On-Time Departures | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|
| 6 to 7 a.m. | 90.3% | 1.9% |
| 8 to 9 a.m. | 86.4% | 1.5% |
| 12 to 1 p.m. | 76.4% | 1.5% |
| 4 to 5 p.m. | 68.4% | 1.9% |
| 8 to 9 p.m. | 63.5% | 2.4% |
| 11 p.m. to midnight | 75.8% | 1.6% |
Source: FlyingOver analysis of Bureau of Transportation Statistics on-time data, August 2025 to July 2026.
Early flights run on time. Departures scheduled from 6 to 7 a.m. left on time 90.3% of the time, with 1.9% cancelled. The 8 to 9 a.m. slot held 86.4%, and the noon slot dropped to 76.4%. Cancellations stayed between 1.5% and 1.9% across those morning and midday hours.
Delays build through the day. The 4 to 5 p.m. slot managed 68.4%, and the 8 to 9 p.m. slot hit the low at 63.5% with 2.4% cancelled. Late flights recover after 11 p.m., when 75.8% leave on time. The pattern fits the delay-cause data, because each late aircraft pushes delays into later trips.
Flight Delay in US – Frequently Asked Questions
What Percentage of Flights Are Delayed in 2026?
From January to July 2026, 75.1% of US flights arrived on time, so 24.9% arrived late, cancelled, or diverted. For full-year 2025, 21.78% of flights arrived 15 or more minutes late.
Which Airline Has the Fewest Delays in 2026?
Alaska Airlines’ network led DOT’s January to July 2026 ranking at 79.6% on time, ahead of Delta at 78.1%. In full-year 2025, Hawaiian Airlines led operating carriers at 81.95%.
Which US Airport Has the Worst Flight Delays in 2026?
San Francisco posted the lowest on-time arrival rate among the 30 busiest airports, at 67.2% from August 2025 to July 2026. LaGuardia had the highest cancellation rate at 4.6%.
What Is the Main Cause of Flight Delays in 2026?
Late-arriving aircraft cause the most delay minutes. They made up 40.0% of delay minutes in 2025 and 39.7% in the latest twelve months.
What Is the Worst Month for Flight Delays in 2026?
July 2026 was the worst month so far at 69.5% on time. January 2026 had the highest cancellation rate at 4.82%, driven by Winter Storm Fern.
How Late Is the Average Delayed Flight in 2026?
A late flight arrived 74.0 minutes behind schedule on average in 2025, up from 72.2 minutes in 2024 and 69.7 minutes in 2019.
When Is the Best Time to Fly to Avoid Delays in 2026?
Early morning. Flights scheduled from 6 to 7 a.m. left on time 90.3% of the time, against 63.5% for the 8 to 9 p.m. slot.
How Does DOT Define a Delayed Flight in 2026?
DOT counts a flight as on time if it reaches the gate less than 15 minutes after its scheduled arrival. Cancelled and diverted flights count as not on time.
Which Airport Cancels the Most Flights in 2026?
LaGuardia cancelled 4.6% of flights from August 2025 to July 2026, the highest rate among the 30 busiest US airports. Washington National followed at 3.6%.
Which Airline Cancels the Most Flights in 2026?
PSA Airlines had the highest 2025 cancellation rate at 4.58%, according to DOT data. The national rate for 2025 was 1.53%.
What Was the Flight Cancellation Rate in January 2026?
The January 2026 cancellation rate reached 4.82%, the highest monthly figure since at least January 2024. Winter Storm Fern grounded flights across the country.
How Many US Flights Arrived Late in 2025?
About 1.69 million flights arrived 15 or more minutes late in 2025, which equals 21.78% of scheduled flights. A further 1.53% were cancelled and 0.27% were diverted.
Disclaimer: The data research report we present here is based on information found from various sources. We are not liable for any financial loss, errors, or damages of any kind that may result from the use of the information herein. We acknowledge that though we try to report accurately, we cannot verify the absolute facts of everything that has been represented.
