How often are flights delayed at MBS?

22% of departures from MBS 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 MBS?

Flights scheduled around 6 a.m. depart on time 92% of the time at MBS, versus 68% around 4 p.m.. Booking before noon is the usual rule of thumb here.

What is the worst month for delays at MBS?

In this dataset, March 2026 was the weakest month at MBS, with 59% of departures on time.

How often are flights cancelled at MBS?

1.3% of scheduled departures from MBS were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.

MBS International Airport (MBS): Delays & On-Time Performance

Data through July 2026

MBS International Airport (MBS) is a tale of two seasons: departures ran 90% on-time in May 2025 but sank to 59% in March 2026. Across the year it averages 79% against a national 78%, over roughly 6 departures a day to 2 destinations.

Departures on-time: 79%; left <15 min late
Avg dep delay: 24 min
Arrivals on-time: 74%
Cancelled: 1.3%
Destinations: 2; nonstop
Airlines: 2

Plan your departure from MBS

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

Best departure time: Around 6 a.m.; 92% on-time
Best day to fly: Tuesday; 80% on-time
Nearest alternative: FNT — Flint; 43 miles away
Cancellation risk: 1.3%; below the US average

Check routes from MBS ↓Compare nearby airports ↓

Monthly on-time trend

Best time of day to depart from MBS

By day of week

Day	On-time	Avg delay
Monday	76%	25 min
Tuesdaybest	80%	21 min
Wednesday	77%	23 min
Thursday	75%	24 min
Friday	73%	28 min
Saturday	79%	23 min
Sunday	73%	32 min

Next: compare the busiest routes from MBS ↓

Busiest routes from MBS

Route	Flights/12mo	On-time	Avg delay
MBS → DTW (Detroit)	1,055	81%	20 min
MBS → ORD (Chicago)	1,006	70%	32 min

Where flights into MBS come from

Route	Flights/12mo	On-time	Avg delay
DTW (Detroit) → MBS	1,055	79%	18 min
ORD (Chicago) → MBS	1,006	68%	26 min

What causes delays at MBS

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

Late-arriving aircraft19%
Airline operations53%
National airspace system13%
Weather15%

Alternative airports near Saginaw/Bay City/Midland

Other airports within 120 miles, compared on departure reliability.

Airport	Distance	On-time departures	Avg delay
FNT — Bishop International Airport	43 mi	76%	25 min
LAN — Capital Region International Airport	58 mi	78%	25 min
GRR — Gerald R. Ford International Airport	85 mi	81%	18 min
DTW — Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport	98 mi	80%	16 min
APN — Alpena County Regional Airport	110 mi	83%	21 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 MBS?: 22% of departures from MBS 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 MBS?: Flights scheduled around 6 a.m. depart on time 92% of the time at MBS, versus 68% around 4 p.m.. Booking before noon is the usual rule of thumb here.
What is the worst month for delays at MBS?: In this dataset, March 2026 was the weakest month at MBS, with 59% of departures on time.
How often are flights cancelled at MBS?: 1.3% of scheduled departures from MBS were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.

Popular route pages from this airport

Related guides

Based on 4,570 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.