Are flights usually on-time?

In an ordinary year, around 20% of flights fail to depart on time, owing to a variety of logistical mishaps and punctuality defeaters such as bad weather, air traffic issues, mechanical problems, and staffing shortages.



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Key findings. 76.49% of domestic flights arrived on time from January through April 2023. That's similar to 76.25% across the same period in 2022 but significantly worse than 87.04% across the same period in 2021.

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The published departure and arrival times for flights are based on the times the aircraft is at the gate. The actual flight time is generally less than the published flight time because the airlines “add” extra time for anticipated and unanticipated times such as taxi times; enroute weather delays, headwinds; etc.

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Wizz Air was the worst major airline for flight delays from the UK last year, according to an investigation. The figures, from the Civil Aviation Authority and reported by the PA news agency, found that the Hungarian carrier's UK departures were an average of 46 minutes and six seconds behind schedule last year.

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This shouldn't cause a problem as passengers are expected to be at the gate 15-30 minutes before and should have boarded the plane at least 15 minutes ahead of the departure time. If you somehow don't make it onboard within these timeframes, the flight can absolutely leave without you.

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A lot of airports have restrictions on night flights because of noise issues. Also some smaller domestic airports close at night. There are a few that leave late at night in order to take advantage of the time difference in the arrival city. There aren't more because there isn't much demand for them.

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Just like there's traffic during rush hour on land, air traffic can get heavy during rush hour, as well. A crowded or exceptionally busy airport can have planes lined up on the runway waiting to take off. This leaves many planes circling the airport, waiting on their clearance to land.

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Do most flights arrive on time? Overall, the year-to-date on-time arrival rate for U.S. airlines was 76.7%.

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If there is a flight delay of 2 hours, the airline staff will usually provide you with vouchers that can be redeemed at local airport restaurants and snack bars.

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Delta Air Lines was the most punctual carrier in the United States in 2022, a recent report revealed. In total, Delta had an on-time rate of 82.1 percent, according to the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR).

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Major airline on-time performance for 2022
  • Delta Air Lines (including regional partners) – 82.1% of flights on time.
  • Alaska Airlines (including regional partners) – 79.1% of flights on time.
  • United Airlines (including regional partners) – 78.7% of flights on time.


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According to data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (which currently only has numbers through May), 20.8 percent of flights were delayed so far in 2023, compared to 18.8 percent in 2019.

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Whether flying at night or during the day, pilots need to see some kind of horizon. They use this to determine the airplane's attitude. At night pilots will turn their gaze from outside to inside and use the artificial horizon. The artificial horizon is normally a simply globe split into two hemispheres.

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Pilots will often also slow their speed to prevent damage, and also reroute the plane if necessary. If you want to select your seat so you can avoid the worst turbulence, learn how to here. Nighttime or morning flights are statistically better for turbulence, compared to those in the day.

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The practice goes by a few different names, including skiplagging or hidden-city flying. Passengers disembark at their layover city, leaving an empty seat on their next flight, and save money in the process. But airlines are cracking down on the practice, claiming it breaches their rules and costs them revenue.

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The most important thing to do is stay hydrated. Your body needs more water than normal when flying, so keep a bottle of water to hand, and try not to drink any more coffee after that first strong cup to perk you up.

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Be aware that some airlines may charge a fee for rebooking the missed flight. This is especially likely if you're flying with a low cost airline, or have chosen a cheaper ticket with more restrictions on changes. You may also be asked to pay the difference in fare if the rebooked flight costs more.

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Newark Airport has the most flight cancellations in the country, study says. Travelers flying out of Newark are more likely to see their flight canceled than in any other U.S. airport, according to new data released two weeks before the busiest travel day of the year.

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Allegiant Air More than a quarter of those flights were delayed or canceled. In fact, 27.31 percent of the airline's flights were delayed, while just 72.69 percent of its flights were on time. There you have it. Of all the US airlines, Allegiant has the most delays and cancellations.

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