Grand Forks International Airport (GFK): Delays & On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Grand Forks International Airport (GFK) is a tale of two seasons: departures ran 95% on-time in October 2024 but sank to 75% in January 2026. Across the year it averages 84% against a national 78%, over roughly 3 departures a day to 4 destinations.
- Departures on-time
- 84%
- left <15 min late
- Avg dep delay
- 15 min
- Arrivals on-time
- 83%
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Destinations
- 4
- nonstop
- Airlines
- 3
Plan your departure from GFK
The choices most likely to improve your odds, based on this airport’s historical record.
- Best departure time
- Around 5 a.m.
- 91% on-time
- Best day to fly
- Sunday
- 84% on-time
- Cancellation risk
- 0.9%
- below the US average
Monthly on-time trend
Best time of day to depart from GFK
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 84% | 16 min |
| Tuesday | 83% | 15 min |
| Wednesday | 83% | 15 min |
| Thursday | 78% | 15 min |
| Friday | 83% | 13 min |
| Saturday | 82% | 18 min |
| Sundaybest | 84% | 16 min |
Busiest routes from GFK
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| GFK → MSP (Minneapolis) | 953 | 83% | 15 min |
Where flights into GFK come from
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSP (Minneapolis) → GFK | 953 | 82% | 14 min |
What causes delays at GFK
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT, weighted across routes departing GFK.
- Late-arriving aircraft12%
- Airline operations51%
- National airspace system16%
- Weather21%
Alternative airports near Grand Forks
Other airports within 120 miles, compared on departure reliability.
| Airport | Distance | On-time departures | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAR — Hector International Airport | 73 mi | 81% | 19 min |
| DVL — Devils Lake Regional Airport | 81 mi | 79% | 28 min |
| JMS — Jamestown Regional Airport | 99 mi | 84% | 19 min |
| BJI — Bemidji Regional Airport | 109 mi | 86% | 18 min |
Compare the airport-level record first, then check the exact route you plan to book.
Airline performance at GFK
| Airline | On-time departures | Avg delay | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| SkyWest Airlines | 85% | 13 min | 1,690 |
| Allegiant Air | 81% | 18 min | 371 |
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights delayed at GFK?
- 16% of departures from Grand Forks International Airport left 15+ minutes late between 2024-06 and 2026-05, with an average departure delay of 15 minutes. The national on-time average over the same period was 78%.
- What is the best time of day to depart from GFK?
- Flights scheduled around 5 a.m. depart on time 91% of the time at GFK, versus 75% around 5 p.m.. Booking before noon is the usual rule of thumb here.
- What is the worst month for delays at GFK?
- In this dataset, January 2026 was the weakest month at GFK, with 75% of departures on time.
- How often are flights cancelled at GFK?
- 0.9% of scheduled departures from GFK were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.
Popular route pages from this airport
Related guides
Based on 2,097 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.