Chippewa County International Airport (CIU): Delays & On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Chippewa County International Airport (CIU) in Sault Ste. Marie, MI is a middle-of-the-pack performer: 80% of departures are on time, within a few points of the national 78%. It hosts 1 airlines flying 2 departures a day to 3 destinations, with cancellations at 3.4%.
- Departures on-time
- 80%
- left <15 min late
- Avg dep delay
- 24 min
- Arrivals on-time
- 76%
- Cancelled
- 3.4%
- Destinations
- 3
- nonstop
- Airlines
- 1
Plan your departure from CIU
The choices most likely to improve your odds, based on this airport’s historical record.
- Best departure time
- Around 6 a.m.
- 85% on-time
- Best day to fly
- Wednesday
- 82% on-time
- Cancellation risk
- 3.4%
- above the US average
Monthly on-time trend
Best time of day to depart from CIU
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 75% | 23 min |
| Tuesday | 77% | 26 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 82% | 16 min |
| Thursday | 79% | 23 min |
| Friday | 78% | 28 min |
| Saturday | 74% | 25 min |
| Sunday | 77% | 31 min |
Busiest routes from CIU
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIU → DTW (Detroit) | 363 | 81% | 20 min |
| CIU → MSP (Minneapolis) | 348 | 80% | 28 min |
| CIU → ORD (Chicago) | 111 | 55% | 32 min |
Where flights into CIU come from
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTW (Detroit) → CIU | 363 | 75% | 25 min |
| MSP (Minneapolis) → CIU | 348 | 78% | 16 min |
| ORD (Chicago) → CIU | 111 | 70% | 20 min |
What causes delays at CIU
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT, weighted across routes departing CIU.
- Late-arriving aircraft5%
- Airline operations63%
- National airspace system8%
- Weather24%
Alternative airports near Sault Ste. Marie
Other airports within 120 miles, compared on departure reliability.
| Airport | Distance | On-time departures | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLN — Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County Airport | 49 mi | 81% | 21 min |
| APN — Alpena County Regional Airport | 91 mi | 83% | 21 min |
| TVC — Cherry Capital Airport | 117 mi | 76% | 23 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 CIU?
- 20% of departures from Chippewa County International Airport left 15+ minutes late between 2024-07 and 2026-07, with an average departure delay of 24 minutes. The national on-time average over the same period was 78%.
- What is the best time of day to depart from CIU?
- Flights scheduled around 6 a.m. depart on time 85% of the time at CIU, versus 75% around 3 p.m.. Booking before noon is the usual rule of thumb here.
- How often are flights cancelled at CIU?
- 3.4% of scheduled departures from CIU were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.
Popular route pages from this airport
Related guides
Based on 1,688 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.