It depends on the airline,how late the connecting flight will arrive,crew duty hours, slots at the airports and how many passengers will be transferring. They will also check the passenger load on the next outbound flight.

In 2026, the general rule is that airlines will NOT hold a flight for a single delayed passenger, as the cost of a "missed slot" and the ripple effect on hundreds of other passengers' connections is too high. However, there are two major exceptions: first, if a large group of passengers (typically 10+) is coming from the same delayed feeder flight, the airline’s "Operations Control Center" may hold the departing plane for 15-20 minutes if it doesn't cause a major scheduling conflict. Second, if it is the last flight of the day and the crew is within their legal "duty hours," they are more likely to wait. If you are on an "airline-protected" booking (one PNR) and miss the flight, the airline is legally required to rebook you on the next available flight for free and provide meal/hotel vouchers if the delay is significant. If you booked your flights separately, you have no such protection and will likely have to purchase a new ticket at your own expense, making "self-transfers" a high-risk strategy in 2026’s high-traffic aviation environment.