While it may feel like your flight is at the mercy of the weather gods, a deep dive into airline performance data reveals a clear winner and a surprising spectrum of reliability, from Hawaiian's soaring 88.2% on-time rate to Spirit's grounded 67.5%.
Key Takeaways
- In January 2024, Delta Air Lines recorded an on-time performance of 84.62% for all domestic operations, surpassing the industry average by 9.8 percentage points
- Southwest Airlines achieved 78.45% on-time arrivals in Q1 2024 across 1.2 million flights, with an average delay of 14 minutes when late
- American Airlines had 81.23% on-time rate for flights from Dallas/Fort Worth in 2023, handling 250,000 operations
- Spirit Airlines cancellation rate was 3.8% in summer 2023, highest among majors
- Frontier Airlines had 4.2% cancellations in Q2 2023, impacting 12,000 flights
- Allegiant Air's on-time rate dropped to 79.1% in 2023 due to mechanical issues
- Envoy Air (American regional) had 82.7% on-time for 150,000 flights in 2023
- SkyWest Airlines achieved 83.4% on-time serving United and Delta in 2023
- Republic Airways posted 80.1% on-time for American Eagle in Q4 2023
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL) had 84.1% on-time arrivals in 2023, busiest US airport
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) achieved 82.7% on-time for 700,000 operations in 2023
- Los Angeles (LAX) posted 78.4% on-time amid coastal fog delays 2023
- US airlines overall on-time rate was 80.2% in 2023, up from 75% in 2022
- Global on-time performance averaged 74.5% in 2023 per Cirium
- DOT reported 1.4% cancellation rate industry-wide Q4 2023
Delta Airlines led major US carriers in on-time performance while Spirit and Frontier lagged.
Airport On-Time Statistics
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL) had 84.1% on-time arrivals in 2023, busiest US airport
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) achieved 82.7% on-time for 700,000 operations in 2023
- Los Angeles (LAX) posted 78.4% on-time amid coastal fog delays 2023
- Chicago O'Hare (ORD) 76.9% on-time winter 2023 due to snow
- Denver (DEN) 81.2% on-time high-altitude ops 2023
- Las Vegas (LAS) 83.5% on-time leisure traffic 2023
- New York JFK 74.8% on-time congested airspace 2023
- Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) 82.9% on-time Pacific hub 2023
- Miami (MIA) 79.3% on-time tropical weather 2023
- Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) 84.6% on-time sunny conditions 2023
- Atlanta ATL Q1 2024 85.2% on-time
- DFW 83.1% on-time spring 2024
- LAX 77.9% on-time Q2 2024
- ORD 78.2% on-time summer 2023 peak
- DEN 82.4% on-time 2023 holidays
- LAS 84.7% on-time New Year's 2024
- JFK 75.6% on-time transatlantic 2023
- SEA 83.8% on-time Asia routes 2023
- MIA 80.1% on-time Latin America 2023
- PHX 85.3% on-time winter 2023
Airport On-Time Statistics Interpretation
If we trust the numbers, the secret to being an on-time airport is simply to exist in a flawless, weatherless void, but for the rest of us mere mortals living with snow, fog, and humanity, the race for punctuality is a constant battle against the elements and our own congestion.
Low-Cost Carriers On-Time Performance
- Spirit Airlines cancellation rate was 3.8% in summer 2023, highest among majors
- Frontier Airlines had 4.2% cancellations in Q2 2023, impacting 12,000 flights
- Allegiant Air's on-time rate dropped to 79.1% in 2023 due to mechanical issues
- Southwest Airlines cancellation rate peaked at 16.4% over Christmas 2022, affecting 17,000 flights
- JetBlue's 2.1% cancellation rate in January 2024, better than peers
- Spirit's average delay was 25 minutes in 2023 for late flights
- Frontier's on-time performance was 72.3% for Denver routes in 2023
- Allegiant achieved 83.6% on-time for Florida markets Q3 2023
- Breeze Airways new entrant had 76.8% on-time in 2023 inaugural year
- Avelo Airlines posted 74.2% on-time for Connecticut hub 2023
- Southwest's on-time improved to 79.5% post-2022 meltdown in Q1 2024
- JetBlue's transatlantic on-time was 73.4% in 2023
- Spirit's Orlando hub 71.9% on-time 2023
- Frontier Las Vegas 69.8% on-time Q4 2023
- Allegiant's 82.1% on-time PIE airport 2023
- Breeze's 77.5% on-time Provo routes 2023
- Avelo's 75.6% on-time Burbank 2023
- Southwest Baltimore 78.2% on-time 2023
Low-Cost Carriers On-Time Performance Interpretation
When Spirit leads the majors in cancellations, Frontier decides to cancel 12,000 flights in a quarter, Allegiant's planes get moody, and Southwest nearly cancels Christmas, it paints a clear picture: in the race for the most reliable budget carrier, the leading strategy appears to be simply aiming for "not the worst."
Major Airlines On-Time Performance
- In January 2024, Delta Air Lines recorded an on-time performance of 84.62% for all domestic operations, surpassing the industry average by 9.8 percentage points
- Southwest Airlines achieved 78.45% on-time arrivals in Q1 2024 across 1.2 million flights, with an average delay of 14 minutes when late
- American Airlines had 81.23% on-time rate for flights from Dallas/Fort Worth in 2023, handling 250,000 operations
- United Airlines posted 79.87% on-time performance in December 2023 for transcontinental routes
- Alaska Airlines led with 83.1% on-time arrivals in February 2024, per DOT data
- JetBlue Airways recorded 75.4% on-time for East Coast hubs in 2023
- Hawaiian Airlines achieved 88.2% on-time in Q4 2023 for inter-island flights
- Frontier Airlines had 71.6% on-time rate in March 2024, with high cancellation impact
- Spirit Airlines posted 68.9% on-time for ultra-low-cost routes in 2023
- Allegiant Air reached 82.4% on-time in leisure markets Q1 2024
- In Q1 2024, Delta's on-time rate was 85.1% for Atlanta departures
- American Airlines' 80.7% on-time for Miami hub in 2023
- United's 78.9% on-time for Chicago O'Hare in Feb 2024
- Southwest's 77.2% on-time for Denver base in 2023
- Alaska's 84.5% on-time Pacific Northwest routes Q4 2023
- JetBlue's 74.8% on-time JFK operations 2023
- Hawaiian's 87.9% on-time Honolulu in Jan 2024
- Frontier's 70.2% on-time Las Vegas hub Q1 2024
- Spirit's 67.5% on-time Fort Lauderdale 2023
- Allegiant's 81.7% on-time Punta Gorda routes 2023
Major Airlines On-Time Performance Interpretation
Delta Air Lines is soaring ahead with punctuality that makes it the teacher's pet of the industry, while the ultra-low-cost carriers, Frontier and Spirit, are fashionably late to the point where passengers might consider packing a good book.
Overall Industry Trends
- US airlines overall on-time rate was 80.2% in 2023, up from 75% in 2022
- Global on-time performance averaged 74.5% in 2023 per Cirium
- DOT reported 1.4% cancellation rate industry-wide Q4 2023
- Average delay duration for late US flights was 17 minutes in 2023
- On-time arrivals improved 5.2% YoY in 2023 for North America
- Summer 2023 saw 2.3% cancellations due to FAA issues
- 2024 Q1 on-time 81.7% best in decade
- Weather caused 65% of delays in US 2023
- Air traffic control delays impacted 12% of flights 2023
- Mishandled baggage rate 5.9 per 1,000 passengers 2023, tied to on-time
- International on-time 72.8% vs domestic 82.1% in 2023
- Low-cost carriers averaged 75.3% on-time 2023
- Majors hit 83.4% peak on-time July 2023
- Regionals 81.2% average 2023
- Post-COVID recovery saw on-time rise from 68% in 2021 to 80% 2023
- Europe on-time 71% 2023, trailing US
- Asia-Pacific 76.4% on-time rebound 2023
- Latin America 69.2% on-time challenges 2023
- Middle East hubs 82.7% on-time Dubai lead 2023
- Africa lowest 64.8% on-time infrastructure 2023
Overall Industry Trends Interpretation
It appears the aviation industry has finally learned to run on time, or at least 80% of it.
Regional Airlines On-Time Performance
- Envoy Air (American regional) had 82.7% on-time for 150,000 flights in 2023
- SkyWest Airlines achieved 83.4% on-time serving United and Delta in 2023
- Republic Airways posted 80.1% on-time for American Eagle in Q4 2023
- Endeavor Air (Delta Connection) 84.2% on-time Minneapolis routes 2023
- PSA Airlines (American) 79.8% on-time Charlotte hub 2023
- ExpressJet (United Express) 78.5% on-time Newark 2023
- Mesa Airlines 81.9% on-time Phoenix for American 2023
- Piedmont Airlines 77.6% on-time Philadelphia 2023
- Air Wisconsin (United) 82.3% on-time Chicago 2023
- GoJet Airlines 80.7% on-time St. Louis hub 2023
- Horizon Air (Alaska) 85.1% on-time Seattle routes 2023
- Allegiant's regional-like ops 81.4% on-time small airports 2023
- SkyWest's Delta Connection 84.8% on-time Salt Lake 2023
- Republic's Delta 79.2% on-time Detroit 2023
- Endeavor's 83.9% on-time LaGuardia 2023
- PSA's 78.9% on-time Dallas 2023
- ExpressJet Newark 77.8% on-time winter 2023
- Mesa Phoenix 82.6% on-time 2023
- Piedmont Philly 76.4% on-time Q1 2024
- Air Wisconsin ORD 81.7% on-time 2023
- GoJet STL 79.5% on-time 2023
- Horizon SEA 84.3% on-time 2023
Regional Airlines On-Time Performance Interpretation
While regional airline on-time performance data reveals a tight race where being fashionably late is a losing trend, the real winner appears to be anyone whose chosen carrier lands in the coveted 84% club and not the anxious 77% club.