How often are flights delayed at LNK?

20% of departures from Lincoln Airport left 15+ minutes late between 2024-07 and 2026-07, with an average departure delay of 22 minutes. The national on-time average over the same period was 78%.

What is the best time of day to depart from LNK?

Flights scheduled around 8 a.m. depart on time 90% of the time at LNK, versus 70% around 5 p.m.. Booking before noon is the usual rule of thumb here.

What is the worst month for delays at LNK?

In this dataset, February 2025 was the weakest month at LNK, with 69% of departures on time.

How often are flights cancelled at LNK?

1.6% of scheduled departures from LNK were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.

Lincoln Airport (LNK): Delays & On-Time Performance

Data through July 2026

Lincoln Airport (LNK) is a tale of two seasons: departures ran 92% on-time in October 2024 but sank to 69% in February 2025. Across the year it averages 80% against a national 78%, over roughly 9 departures a day to 5 destinations.

Departures on-time: 80%; left <15 min late
Avg dep delay: 22 min
Arrivals on-time: 72%
Cancelled: 1.6%
Destinations: 5; nonstop
Airlines: 2

Plan your departure from LNK

The choices most likely to improve your odds, based on this airport’s historical record.

Best departure time: Around 8 a.m.; 90% on-time
Best day to fly: Tuesday; 79% on-time
Nearest alternative: OMA — Omaha; 55 miles away
Cancellation risk: 1.6%; close to the US average

Check routes from LNK ↓Compare nearby airports ↓

Monthly on-time trend

Best time of day to depart from LNK

By day of week

Day	On-time	Avg delay
Monday	76%	24 min
Tuesdaybest	79%	23 min
Wednesday	79%	24 min
Thursday	76%	23 min
Friday	78%	22 min
Saturday	78%	21 min
Sunday	75%	21 min

Next: compare the busiest routes from LNK ↓

Busiest routes from LNK

Route	Flights/12mo	On-time	Avg delay
LNK → DEN (Denver)	1,588	78%	22 min
LNK → ORD (Chicago)	1,585	77%	23 min
LNK → DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth)	115	83%	18 min

Where flights into LNK come from

Route	Flights/12mo	On-time	Avg delay
DEN (Denver) → LNK	1,588	74%	25 min
ORD (Chicago) → LNK	1,586	69%	27 min
DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth) → LNK	116	68%	24 min

Most reliable routes

Most delay-prone routes

What causes delays at LNK

Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT, weighted across routes departing LNK.

Late-arriving aircraft26%
Airline operations41%
National airspace system20%
Weather13%

Alternative airports near Lincoln

Other airports within 120 miles, compared on departure reliability.

Airport	Distance	On-time departures	Avg delay
OMA — Eppley Airfield	55 mi	82%	15 min
GRI — Central Nebraska Regional Airport	81 mi	77%	27 min
SUX — Sioux Gateway Airport / Brigadier General Bud Day Field	109 mi	77%	27 min
EAR — Kearney Regional Airport	118 mi	85%	23 min
MHK — Manhattan Regional Airport	118 mi	84%	17 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 LNK?: 20% of departures from Lincoln Airport left 15+ minutes late between 2024-07 and 2026-07, with an average departure delay of 22 minutes. The national on-time average over the same period was 78%.
What is the best time of day to depart from LNK?: Flights scheduled around 8 a.m. depart on time 90% of the time at LNK, versus 70% around 5 p.m.. Booking before noon is the usual rule of thumb here.
What is the worst month for delays at LNK?: In this dataset, February 2025 was the weakest month at LNK, with 69% of departures on time.
How often are flights cancelled at LNK?: 1.6% of scheduled departures from LNK were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.

Popular route pages from this airport

Related guides

Based on 6,127 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.