Decatur Airport (DEC): Delays & On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Decatur Airport (DEC) in Decatur, IL is a middle-of-the-pack performer: 81% of departures are on time, within a few points of the national 78%. It hosts 1 airlines flying 2 departures a day to 1 destinations, with cancellations at 2.7%.
- Departures on-time
- 81%
- left <15 min late
- Avg dep delay
- 27 min
- Arrivals on-time
- 72%
- Cancelled
- 2.7%
- Destinations
- 1
- nonstop
- Airlines
- 1
Plan your departure from DEC
The choices most likely to improve your odds, based on this airport’s historical record.
- Best departure time
- Around 9 a.m.
- 88% on-time
- Best day to fly
- Monday
- 77% on-time
- Cancellation risk
- 2.7%
- above the US average
Monthly on-time trend
Best time of day to depart from DEC
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Mondaybest | 77% | 34 min |
| Tuesday | 75% | 24 min |
| Wednesday | 75% | 36 min |
| Thursday | 70% | 32 min |
| Friday | 73% | 26 min |
| Saturday | 69% | 28 min |
| Sunday | 68% | 30 min |
Busiest routes from DEC
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEC → ORD (Chicago) | 627 | 73% | 31 min |
Where flights into DEC come from
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORD (Chicago) → DEC | 627 | 72% | 23 min |
What causes delays at DEC
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT, weighted across routes departing DEC.
- Late-arriving aircraft39%
- Airline operations42%
- National airspace system13%
- Weather6%
Alternative airports near Decatur
Other airports within 120 miles, compared on departure reliability.
| Airport | Distance | On-time departures | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMI — University of Illinois Willard Airport | 34 mi | 83% | 17 min |
| SPI — Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport | 43 mi | 78% | 19 min |
| BMI — Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal | 44 mi | 85% | 15 min |
| PIA — General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport | 72 mi | 78% | 23 min |
| BLV — Scott AFB/Midamerica Airport | 103 mi | 74% | 28 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 DEC?
- 19% of departures from Decatur Airport left 15+ minutes late between 2024-06 and 2026-05, with an average departure delay of 27 minutes. The national on-time average over the same period was 78%.
- What is the best time of day to depart from DEC?
- Flights scheduled around 9 a.m. depart on time 88% of the time at DEC, versus 72% around 7 p.m.. Booking before noon is the usual rule of thumb here.
- How often are flights cancelled at DEC?
- 2.7% of scheduled departures from DEC were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.
Popular route pages from this airport
Related guides
Based on 1,254 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.