Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR): Delays & On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) is a tale of two seasons: departures ran 90% on-time in October 2024 but sank to 68% in December 2025. Across the year it averages 81% against a national 78%, over roughly 53 departures a day to 37 destinations.
- Departures on-time
- 81%
- left <15 min late
- Avg dep delay
- 17 min
- Arrivals on-time
- 76%
- Cancelled
- 1.6%
- Destinations
- 37
- nonstop
- Airlines
- 11
Plan your departure from GRR
The choices most likely to improve your odds, based on this airport’s historical record.
- Best departure time
- Around 6 a.m.
- 91% on-time
- Best day to fly
- Tuesday
- 80% on-time
- Cancellation risk
- 1.6%
- close to the US average
Monthly on-time trend
Best time of day to depart from GRR
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 77% | 21 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 80% | 17 min |
| Wednesday | 79% | 16 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 18 min |
| Friday | 75% | 20 min |
| Saturday | 79% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 76% | 23 min |
Busiest routes from GRR
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRR → ORD (Chicago) | 4,108 | 71% | 25 min |
| GRR → DTW (Detroit) | 1,575 | 80% | 19 min |
| GRR → ATL (Atlanta) | 1,445 | 86% | 10 min |
| GRR → DEN (Denver) | 1,242 | 80% | 13 min |
| GRR → MSP (Minneapolis) | 1,240 | 82% | 16 min |
| GRR → DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth) | 1,043 | 68% | 34 min |
| GRR → CLT (Charlotte) | 1,024 | 80% | 18 min |
| GRR → LGA (New York) | 992 | 81% | 13 min |
| GRR → MDW (Chicago) | 928 | 81% | 12 min |
| GRR → EWR (Newark) | 810 | 81% | 16 min |
| GRR → DCA (Washington) | 730 | 72% | 32 min |
| GRR → LAS (Las Vegas) | 438 | 77% | 19 min |
| GRR → BWI (Baltimore) | 423 | 79% | 12 min |
| GRR → MCO (Orlando) | 418 | 78% | 21 min |
| GRR → SFB (Sanford) | 412 | 73% | 22 min |
| GRR → PIE (St. Petersburg) | 384 | 78% | 14 min |
| GRR → PGD (Punta Gorda) | 358 | 81% | 13 min |
| GRR → PHL (Philadelphia) | 234 | 87% | 14 min |
| GRR → AZA (Phoenix) | 216 | 82% | 12 min |
| GRR → MIA (Miami) | 208 | 78% | 22 min |
| GRR → BNA (Nashville) | 185 | 77% | 17 min |
| GRR → SRQ (Sarasota/Bradenton) | 165 | 79% | 15 min |
| GRR → PHX (Phoenix) | 155 | 66% | 50 min |
| GRR → FLL (Fort Lauderdale) | 110 | 76% | 21 min |
| GRR → JAX (Jacksonville) | 104 | 80% | 15 min |
Where flights into GRR come from
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORD (Chicago) → GRR | 4,103 | 73% | 21 min |
| DTW (Detroit) → GRR | 1,574 | 75% | 23 min |
| ATL (Atlanta) → GRR | 1,446 | 83% | 12 min |
| DEN (Denver) → GRR | 1,243 | 76% | 15 min |
| MSP (Minneapolis) → GRR | 1,240 | 80% | 14 min |
| DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth) → GRR | 1,042 | 67% | 26 min |
| CLT (Charlotte) → GRR | 1,025 | 75% | 18 min |
| LGA (New York) → GRR | 992 | 79% | 15 min |
What causes delays at GRR
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT, weighted across routes departing GRR.
- Late-arriving aircraft30%
- Airline operations37%
- National airspace system23%
- Weather9%
Alternative airports near Grand Rapids
Other airports within 120 miles, compared on departure reliability.
| Airport | Distance | On-time departures | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| AZO — Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport | 45 mi | 81% | 21 min |
| LAN — Capital Region International Airport | 48 mi | 78% | 25 min |
| MBS — MBS International Airport | 85 mi | 78% | 24 min |
| FNT — Bishop International Airport | 90 mi | 77% | 24 min |
| SBN — South Bend International Airport | 91 mi | 77% | 24 min |
Compare the airport-level record first, then check the exact route you plan to book.
Airline performance at GRR
| Airline | On-time departures | Avg delay | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 88% | 11 min | 4,546 |
| Republic Airways | 86% | 12 min | 4,667 |
| Endeavor Air | 84% | 11 min | 481 |
| United Airlines | 84% | 14 min | 3,129 |
| Southwest Airlines | 82% | 11 min | 4,153 |
| Allegiant Air | 81% | 15 min | 4,952 |
| PSA Airlines | 79% | 28 min | 1,595 |
| Frontier Airlines | 79% | 21 min | 1,094 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 77% | 22 min | 5,242 |
| Envoy Air | 77% | 17 min | 1,819 |
| American Airlines | 77% | 27 min | 5,374 |
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights delayed at GRR?
- 19% of departures from Gerald R. Ford International Airport left 15+ minutes late between 2024-06 and 2026-05, with an average departure delay of 17 minutes. The national on-time average over the same period was 78%.
- What is the best time of day to depart from GRR?
- Flights scheduled around 6 a.m. depart on time 91% of the time at GRR, versus 66% around 9 p.m.. Booking before noon is the usual rule of thumb here.
- What is the worst month for delays at GRR?
- In this dataset, December 2025 was the weakest month at GRR, with 68% of departures on time.
- How often are flights cancelled at GRR?
- 1.6% of scheduled departures from GRR were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.
Popular route pages from this airport
Related guides
Based on 37,052 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.