US airline on-time ranking
Delta Air Lines is the most on-time major US airline at 84.6% (departures within 15 minutes of schedule). The least punctual is Spirit Airlines at 66.15%. Based on 667,250 flights from US DOT BTS data. Last updated 2026-10-06.
| # | Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delta Air Lines | 84.6% | 1.26 min | 0.81% |
| 2 | Alaska Airlines | 84.53% | -0.63 min | 0.46% |
| 3 | United Airlines | 82.76% | 5.43 min | 1.26% |
| 4 | American Airlines | 79.09% | 5.79 min | 1.15% |
| 5 | JetBlue Airways | 79.08% | 7.02 min | 0.1% |
| 6 | Allegiant Air | 78.2% | 10.39 min | 0.14% |
| 7 | Hawaiian Airlines | 77.9% | 10.66 min | 1.46% |
| 8 | Southwest Airlines | 74.56% | 4.75 min | 0.26% |
| 9 | Frontier Airlines | 74.21% | 11.26 min | 1.32% |
| 10 | Spirit Airlines | 66.15% | 19.12 min | 3.36% |
On-time = departed within 15 minutes of schedule. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Marketing Carrier On-Time Performance.
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Check your flightUS airline punctuality — FAQ
Which US airline is the most on time?
Delta Air Lines has the best on-time rate among major US carriers at 84.6% (departures within 15 minutes of schedule), based on US DOT BTS data across 139,548 recent flights.
Which US airline has the worst on-time record?
Spirit Airlines has the lowest on-time rate in this ranking at 66.15%, with a 3.36% cancellation rate.
Where does this data come from?
From the US Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Marketing Carrier On-Time Performance dataset — the official US source for airline punctuality.
