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Route · MSP → LNK · 2020–2025 BTS data

Minneapolis to Lincoln

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), MSP to LNK (Minneapolis to Lincoln) ranks #4648 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

90.3%
On-time
+11.3 pts
vs US avg
76 min
Delay when late
803
Flights
#4648 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

6.6%

Best Month

Apr 2020 98%

Worst Month

Dec 2021 79%

Distance

331 mi

Carriers

3

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2021 62 13 2 0 OO
Nov 2021 62 7 1 1 OO
Oct 2021 66 4 3 1 OO
Sep 2021 61 2 0 1 OO
Aug 2021 62 9 1 0 OO
Jul 2021 62 8 0 0 OO
Jun 2021 60 8 0 0 OO
Jun 2020 30 1 6 0 9E
May 2020 31 0 7 0 9E,OO
Apr 2020 61 1 29 0 OO
Mar 2020 89 7 3 0 OO
Feb 2020 76 5 0 0 9E,OO
Jan 2020 81 13 1 1 OO

MSP–LNK seasonal on-time pattern

Best: May (100.0%) · weakest: December (79.0%)

75%80%85%90%95%100%105% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 79%

Strongest calendar month

May

100.0% on-time · ~31 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

March

~89 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

December

79.0% on-time · ~62 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

6.6%

53 of 803 flights

Diversion Rate

0.5%

4 of 803 flights

Explore origin & destination

On-time and delay data for the airports this route connects.

MSP - Minneapolis

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Minneapolis, MN.

MSP on-time profile

LNK - Lincoln

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Lincoln, NE.

LNK on-time profile

Compare the two airports

See MSP and LNK side by side on delays, cancellations, and reliability.

Compare MSP vs LNK

Origin-hub reliability standing

Among MSP's stronger departures

MSP → LNK posts a 90.3% on-time rate, landing in the ≥85% band with 42 of 99 BTS-tracked routes leaving Minneapolis. The same hub also shows 57 mid-band and 0 challenged departures · fleet-wide on-time rank #126 of 4927 (highest on-time = #1).

What the Data Says About MSP to LNK

Minneapolis to Lincoln (MSP to LNK) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 90.3% on-time rate across 803 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 75.6 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 331 miles and is served by 3 carriers. Over the most recent 24 months, 53 of 803 flights were cancelled (6.6%) and 4 diverted (0.5%).

The monthly split is wide on this route: Apr 2020 posted the strongest performance at 98% on-time, while Dec 2021 came in at just 79% - a 19-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, MSP–LNK peaks in May at 100.0% on-time while March carries the heaviest traffic (~89 flights per month) ; the softest month is December at 79.0%, a 21.0-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does MSP to LNK rank among US routes by traffic? ▼
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, MSP to LNK ranks #4648 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1). That ordinal matches our busiest-routes listing (total_flights DESC). See /methodology#corpus-placement for the exact sort basis.
How often are flights delayed from MSP to LNK? ▼
Flights from Minneapolis to Lincoln have a 90.3% on-time rate based on 803 flights. The average delay is 75.6 minutes. The best recent month was Apr 2020 with 98% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for MSP to LNK? ▼
Over the last 24 months, 6.6% of flights on this route were cancelled (53 of 803 flights) and 0.5% were diverted.
How far is the flight from MSP to LNK? ▼
The flight distance from Minneapolis (MSP) to Lincoln (LNK) is approximately 331 miles. This route is served by 3 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from MSP to LNK? ▼
The best recent month for on-time performance was Apr 2020 (98% on-time). The worst was Dec 2021 (79% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

MSP Airport

Minneapolis
LNK Airport

Lincoln
Data source

Data Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), On-Time Performance Data. Statistics reflect cumulative performance across all available reporting periods.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Using MSP–LNK data

MSP–LNK runs 11.3 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare MSP and LNK airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. MSP airport
  • If your dates flex, May (100.0% on-time) beats December (79.0%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 90.3% on-time rate; compare before you commit to this pairing. Similar routes

On-time rate reflects the BTS historical average across all reporting carriers on this origin–destination pair, not any single flight or booking recommendation.

Data sourced from U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) On-Time Performance data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFlights

Every figure on PlainFlights is rendered directly from BTS On-Time Performance data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates this specific route's on-time performance and monthly trend, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.