Mason City Municipal Airport (MCW): Delays & On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Mason City Municipal Airport (MCW) in Mason City, IA is a middle-of-the-pack performer: 79% of departures are on time, within a few points of the national 78%. It hosts 1 airlines flying 2 departures a day to 2 destinations, with cancellations at 4.7%.
- Departures on-time
- 79%
- left <15 min late
- Avg dep delay
- 29 min
- Arrivals on-time
- 73%
- Cancelled
- 4.7%
- Destinations
- 2
- nonstop
- Airlines
- 1
Plan your departure from MCW
The choices most likely to improve your odds, based on this airport’s historical record.
- Best day to fly
- Tuesday
- 79% on-time
- Cancellation risk
- 4.7%
- above the US average
Monthly on-time trend
Best time of day to depart from MCW
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 71% | 37 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 79% | 21 min |
| Wednesday | 77% | 27 min |
| Thursday | 74% | 28 min |
| Friday | 68% | 35 min |
| Saturday | 79% | 38 min |
| Sunday | 72% | 28 min |
Busiest routes from MCW
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCW → ORD (Chicago) | 627 | 73% | 32 min |
Where flights into MCW come from
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORD (Chicago) → MCW | 627 | 74% | 18 min |
What causes delays at MCW
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT, weighted across routes departing MCW.
- Late-arriving aircraft54%
- Airline operations24%
- National airspace system13%
- Weather9%
Alternative airports near Mason City
Other airports within 120 miles, compared on departure reliability.
| Airport | Distance | On-time departures | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| FOD — Fort Dodge Regional Airport | 61 mi | 79% | 28 min |
| ALO — Waterloo Regional Airport | 63 mi | 80% | 25 min |
| RST — Rochester International Airport | 66 mi | 77% | 22 min |
| DSM — Des Moines International Airport | 114 mi | 82% | 18 min |
| LSE — La Crosse Regional Airport | 115 mi | 84% | 14 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 MCW?
- 21% of departures from Mason City Municipal Airport left 15+ minutes late between 2024-06 and 2026-05, with an average departure delay of 29 minutes. The national on-time average over the same period was 78%.
- How often are flights cancelled at MCW?
- 4.7% of scheduled departures from MCW were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.
Popular route pages from this airport
Related guides
Based on 1,253 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.