State · SD · 2020–2025 BTS data
South Dakota
According to PlainFlights' state traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), South Dakota ranks #45 of 53 US states by total flight operations (most flights = #1).
Data updated 2026-06-13
- 82.8%
- On-time
- +3.8 pts
- vs US avg
- 87 min
- Delay when late
- 1.25%
- Cancelled
- #45 of 53
- Corpus placement
State reliability verdict
According to U.S. DOT BTS data, South Dakota is a quiet-book state: 156,675 operations at 5 airports run 82.8% on-time, 3.8 pts above the 79% U.S. average. Among tracked airports, ABR leads locally at 88.6% on-time.
- 82.8%
- statewide on-time
- +3.8 pts
- vs US average
- 5
- airports tracked
- 1.25%
- cancellation rate
On-time means arrived less than 15 minutes after schedule. Figures are historical BTS averages, not a guarantee for any single flight.
South Dakota vs all states by total flight operations
Where this state's BTS On-Time Performance flight count sits among every state with tracked operations (traffic density, not on-time quality)
156,675 Top 85% more flights than 15% of 53 states
States, banded by total BTS-tracked flights
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source BTS On-Time Performance · 2026-06-13
Airports in South Dakota
South Dakota airports ranked by on-time rate
5 BTS-tracked airports, led by ABR at 88.6%
On-time rate by airport
- ABR
Aberdeen, SD: 88.6% on-time, 8,753 flights
89 %
- ATY
Watertown, SD: 87.6% on-time, 3,061 flights
88 %
- PIR
Pierre, SD: 87% on-time, 3,006 flights
87 %
- RAP
Rapid City, SD: 83.1% on-time, 58,593 flights
83 %
- FSD
Sioux Falls, SD: 81.6% on-time, 83,262 flights
82 %
What this shows Airports here range from 81.6% to 88.6% on-time.
| Code | Airport | City | Flights | On-Time | Avg Delay (when late) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FSD | Sioux Falls, SD | Sioux Falls | 83,262 | 81.6% | 85.1 min |
| RAP | Rapid City, SD | Rapid City | 58,593 | 83.1% | 85.3 min |
| ABR | Aberdeen, SD | Aberdeen | 8,753 | 88.6% | 118.2 min |
| ATY | Watertown, SD | Watertown | 3,061 | 87.6% | 111.4 min |
| PIR | Pierre, SD | Pierre | 3,006 | 87% | 116.7 min |
South Dakota traffic-scale reading
The standout signal in South Dakota is traffic scale: 156,675 BTS flights place it #45 of 53 by book size. That quiet-book footprint sits beside a 82.8% on-time rate (3.8 pts above the 79% U.S. average), 26,998 delayed departures, and a 1.25% cancellation rate.
As a quieter state, Sioux Falls, SD (FSD) still leads volume with 83,262 flights at 81.6% on-time; a single late inbound can swing the monthly book more than at a mega-hub state.
On the recent 24-month tape, delay pressure is lightest in Oct 2024 and heaviest in Dec 2025. On reliability, Aberdeen, SD (ABR) posts the highest on-time rate at 88.6% across 8,753 flights. On-time performance explained.
States With a Similar On-Time Rate
Other U.S. states whose statewide on-time rate is closest to South Dakota's 82.8%.
Using South Dakota's data
South Dakota's statewide on-time book is stronger than most peers; remaining risk sits in the busiest airport and delay mix, not a weak headline rate.
- Aberdeen, SD (ABR) is the most reliable airport in South Dakota among those with meaningful traffic. ABR profile
- Sioux Falls, SD handles the most traffic in the state; its performance weighs heavily on the state average. FSD profile
- See how South Dakota compares with every other state that has BTS-tracked airports. All states
State averages are flight-weighted across all reporting airports in the state; a single busy airport can dominate the figure.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Airline on-time performance and operational reliability · 2025