State · VA · 2020–2025 BTS data
Virginia
According to PlainFlights' state traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), Virginia ranks #9 of 53 US states by total flight operations (most flights = #1).
Data updated 2026-06-13
- 81.8%
- On-time
- +2.8 pts
- vs US avg
- 80 min
- Delay when late
- 1.38%
- Cancelled
- #9 of 53
- Corpus placement
State reliability verdict
According to U.S. DOT BTS data, Virginia is a busy-book state: 2,545,949 operations at 9 airports run 81.8% on-time, 2.8 pts above the 79% U.S. average. Among tracked airports, PHF leads locally at 88.1% on-time.
- 81.8%
- statewide on-time
- +2.8 pts
- vs US average
- 9
- airports tracked
- 1.38%
- cancellation rate
On-time means arrived less than 15 minutes after schedule. Figures are historical BTS averages, not a guarantee for any single flight.
Virginia 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)
2,545,949 Top 17% more flights than 83% 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 Virginia
Virginia airports ranked by on-time rate
9 BTS-tracked airports, led by PHF at 88.1%
On-time rate by airport
- PHF
Newport News/Williamsburg, VA: 88.1% on-time, 4,730 flights
88 %
- LYH
Lynchburg, VA: 86.5% on-time, 2,116 flights
87 %
- CHO
Charlottesville, VA: 85.5% on-time, 31,578 flights
86 %
- SHD
Staunton, VA: 84.7% on-time, 4,017 flights
85 %
- IAD
Washington, DC: 84.1% on-time, 618,145 flights
84 %
- ROA
Roanoke, VA: 83.2% on-time, 25,454 flights
83 %
- ORF
Norfolk, VA: 81.6% on-time, 231,501 flights
82 %
- RIC
Richmond, VA: 81.6% on-time, 203,348 flights
82 %
- DCA
Washington, DC: 80.8% on-time, 1,425,060 flights
81 %
What this shows Airports here range from 80.8% to 88.1% on-time.
| Code | Airport | City | Flights | On-Time | Avg Delay (when late) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DCA | Washington, DC | Washington | 1,425,060 | 80.8% | 79.6 min |
| IAD | Washington, DC | Washington | 618,145 | 84.1% | 81.3 min |
| ORF | Norfolk, VA | Norfolk | 231,501 | 81.6% | 78.5 min |
| RIC | Richmond, VA | Richmond | 203,348 | 81.6% | 75.7 min |
| CHO | Charlottesville, VA | Charlottesville | 31,578 | 85.5% | 85.4 min |
| ROA | Roanoke, VA | Roanoke | 25,454 | 83.2% | 87.3 min |
| PHF | Newport News/Williamsburg, VA | Newport News/Williamsburg | 4,730 | 88.1% | 89.2 min |
| SHD | Staunton, VA | Staunton | 4,017 | 84.7% | 123.9 min |
| LYH | Lynchburg, VA | Lynchburg | 2,116 | 86.5% | 73.0 min |
Virginia traffic-scale reading
The standout signal in Virginia is traffic scale: 2,545,949 BTS flights place it #9 of 53 by book size. That busy-book footprint sits beside a 81.8% on-time rate (2.8 pts above the 79% U.S. average), 462,874 delayed departures, and a 1.38% cancellation rate.
As a busy-book state, Washington, DC (DCA) in Washington dominates the average with 1,425,060 flights at 80.8% on-time - hub delay mix swings the state figure more than a thin schedule would.
On the recent 24-month tape, delay pressure is lightest in Oct 2024 and heaviest in Jul 2025. On reliability, Newport News/Williamsburg, VA (PHF) posts the highest on-time rate at 88.1% across 4,730 flights. On-time performance explained.
States With a Similar On-Time Rate
Other U.S. states whose statewide on-time rate is closest to Virginia's 81.8%.
Using Virginia's data
Virginia's statewide on-time book is mid-pack; airport choice and month move more than the headline rate.
- Newport News/Williamsburg, VA (PHF) is the most reliable airport in Virginia among those with meaningful traffic. PHF profile
- Washington, DC handles the most traffic in the state; its performance weighs heavily on the state average. DCA profile
- See how Virginia 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