BTS-powered U.S. flight stats: on-time rates and delay causes for 382 airports, 18 airlines, and 4,927 routes (2020–2025).
The dataset at a glance
382
Airports tracked
4,927
Routes tracked
18
Airlines tracked
79%
National on-time rate
38.3 million flights analyzed, 2020–2025.
Look up flight performance
Search airports, compare hubs side-by-side, or jump to a route, all powered by BTS on-time data (2020–2025).
The national picture
According to the U.S. DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 79% of 38.3 million U.S. domestic flights from 2020 to 2025 arrived less than 15 minutes after schedule, but on-time odds swing widely by airline, airport, route, and time of year.
79%
arrived on time (within 15 min)
38.3 million
flights analyzed, 2020–2025
18.8%
delayed on arrival
2.2%
cancelled
On-time, delayed, and cancelled shares are computed directly from the BTS On-Time Performance record, no estimates.
Tiers follow Bureau of Transportation Statistics On-Time Performance definitions, a flight is on-time if it arrives less than 15 minutes after schedule.On-time tier breakdown across all tracked U.S. flights, from U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) on-time performance data.
Busy airports aren't always the most reliable
A sample of 30 airports spanning the full range of tracked flight volume, plotted against on-time rate. Crosshair marks the median of this sample: 33,325 flights, 83.5% on-time.
Flight volume vs on-time rate
30 airports across the full tracked volume range, BTS 2020-2025.
PlainFlights provides on-time performance data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics covering 38.3 million flight segments, 382 airports, and 18 airlines from 2020-2025.
How is on-time performance calculated?
A flight is considered on time if it arrives less than 15 minutes after its scheduled arrival time, following the standard BTS definition.
Where does PlainFlights data come from?
All data comes from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics On-Time Performance database, reported monthly by U.S. airlines.
Flight Guides
Learn how to read and use federal flight performance data.
On-time performance is the single best predictor of a smooth trip, and it's knowable before you book.
Check your airline first, the gap between the most and least reliable carriers runs well over 10 points. Airline rankings →
Look up your departure airport’s delay profile, top delay cause, and worst months. Browse airports →
Deciding between two airports or hubs? Put them side by side. Compare airports →
Read the original state-level delay analysis drawn entirely from this database. State delay research →
On-time means arrival less than 15 minutes after schedule (the federal BTS standard). Cancelled and diverted flights are reported separately and excluded from on-time rates.
How PlainFlights works, and why you can trust these numbers
What this site is
PlainFlights is a plain-language reference for U.S. domestic flight performance. We turn the DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics On-Time Performance database, 38.3 million flight segments from 2020-2025, into searchable airport, airline, and route rankings, with every figure traceable back to the same BTS filings the DOT itself uses for official aviation reports.
Editorial process
Source. Download the monthly BTS On-Time Performance bulk CSV files (Form 41 T-100 Domestic Segment data) directly from the official BTS data portal.
Verify. Classify on-time arrivals using the standard DOT 15-minute definition, and preserve the BTS-assigned delay-cause categories exactly as reported by the airlines, no reclassification or reattribution.
Publish. Compile airport, airline, and route pages from the raw flight-level records without adjustment, linking back to the BTS source so readers can audit our numbers against the original filing.
Editorial independence & corrections
The PlainFlights editorial process is independent and is not affiliated with the BTS, DOT, FAA, or any airline. Found an error or a stale figure? File a correction via the contact page. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
Frequently asked
What data does PlainFlights provide?
PlainFlights provides on-time performance data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics covering 38.3 million flight segments, 382 airports, and 18 airlines from 2020-2025.
How is on-time performance calculated?
A flight is considered on time if it arrives less than 15 minutes after its scheduled arrival time, following the standard BTS definition.
Where does PlainFlights data come from?
All data comes from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics On-Time Performance database, reported monthly by U.S. airlines.
