Watertown Regional Airport (ATY): Delays & On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Watertown Regional Airport (ATY) runs noticeably smoother than most US airports: 86% of its ~2 daily departures leave on time, 8 points above the national average, with an average departure delay of just 21 minutes. 1 airlines fly from Watertown, SD to 2 destinations.
- Departures on-time
- 86%
- left <15 min late
- Avg dep delay
- 21 min
- Arrivals on-time
- 86%
- Cancelled
- 1.2%
- Destinations
- 2
- nonstop
- Airlines
- 1
Plan your departure from ATY
The choices most likely to improve your odds, based on this airport’s historical record.
- Best day to fly
- Tuesday
- 91% on-time
- Cancellation risk
- 1.2%
- below the US average
Monthly on-time trend
Best time of day to depart from ATY
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 88% | 19 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 91% | 14 min |
| Wednesday | 79% | 36 min |
| Thursday | 80% | 31 min |
| Friday | 80% | 23 min |
| Saturday | 83% | 21 min |
| Sunday | 85% | 18 min |
Busiest routes from ATY
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATY → MSP (Minneapolis) | 303 | 92% | 19 min |
| ATY → DEN (Denver) | 302 | 75% | 28 min |
Where flights into ATY come from
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSP (Minneapolis) → ATY | 304 | 87% | 25 min |
| DEN (Denver) → ATY | 302 | 84% | 12 min |
What causes delays at ATY
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT, weighted across routes departing ATY.
- Late-arriving aircraft13%
- Airline operations57%
- National airspace system13%
- Weather18%
Alternative airports near Watertown
Other airports within 120 miles, compared on departure reliability.
| Airport | Distance | On-time departures | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABR — Aberdeen Regional Airport | 72 mi | 87% | 21 min |
| FSD — Sioux Falls Regional Airport | 94 mi | 80% | 20 min |
Compare the airport-level record first, then check the exact route you plan to book.
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights delayed at ATY?
- 14% of departures from Watertown Regional Airport left 15+ minutes late between 2024-06 and 2026-05, with an average departure delay of 21 minutes. The national on-time average over the same period was 78%.
- How often are flights cancelled at ATY?
- 1.2% of scheduled departures from ATY were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.
Popular route pages from this airport
Related guides
Based on 605 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.