Mason City Municipal Airport (MCW): Delays & On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Mason City Municipal Airport (MCW) in Mason City, IA is a middle-of-the-pack performer: 80% 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 5%.
- Departures on-time
- 80%
- left <15 min late
- Avg dep delay
- 28 min
- Arrivals on-time
- 73%
- Cancelled
- 5.0%
- 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 departure time
- Around 9 a.m.
- 86% on-time
- Best day to fly
- Saturday
- 78% on-time
- Cancellation risk
- 5.0%
- 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% | 31 min |
| Tuesday | 76% | 30 min |
| Wednesday | 77% | 28 min |
| Thursday | 72% | 29 min |
| Friday | 69% | 34 min |
| Saturdaybest | 78% | 38 min |
| Sunday | 71% | 28 min |
Busiest routes from MCW
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCW → ORD (Chicago) | 627 | 73% | 31 min |
Where flights into MCW come from
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORD (Chicago) → MCW | 627 | 74% | 19 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 aircraft52%
- Airline operations24%
- National airspace system14%
- Weather10%
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 | 78% | 29 min |
| ALO — Waterloo Regional Airport | 63 mi | 79% | 26 min |
| RST — Rochester International Airport | 66 mi | 77% | 23 min |
| DSM — Des Moines International Airport | 114 mi | 82% | 19 min |
| LSE — La Crosse Regional Airport | 115 mi | 83% | 15 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 2024-07 and 2026-07, with an average departure delay of 28 minutes. The national on-time average over the same period was 78%.
- What is the best time of day to depart from MCW?
- Flights scheduled around 9 a.m. depart on time 86% of the time at MCW, versus 69% around 6 p.m.. Booking before noon is the usual rule of thumb here.
- How often are flights cancelled at MCW?
- 5% 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 1,307 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.