How often are flights delayed at PLN?

19% of departures from Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County Airport left 15+ minutes late between 2024-06 and 2026-05, 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 PLN?

Flights scheduled around 10 a.m. depart on time 85% of the time at PLN, versus 72% around 3 p.m.. Booking before noon is the usual rule of thumb here.

How often are flights cancelled at PLN?

6.7% of scheduled departures from PLN were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.

Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County Airport (PLN): Delays & On-Time Performance

Data through May 2026

Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County Airport (PLN) in Pellston, MI is a middle-of-the-pack performer: 81% of departures are on time, within a few points of the national 78%. It hosts 1 airlines flying 2 departures a day to 3 destinations, with cancellations at 6.7%.

Departures on-time: 81%; left <15 min late
Avg dep delay: 22 min
Arrivals on-time: 78%
Cancelled: 6.7%
Destinations: 3; nonstop
Airlines: 1

Plan your departure from PLN

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

Best departure time: Around 10 a.m.; 85% on-time
Best day to fly: Thursday; 83% on-time
Nearest alternative: CIU — Sault Ste. Marie; 49 miles away
Cancellation risk: 6.7%; above the US average

Check routes from PLN ↓Compare nearby airports ↓

Monthly on-time trend

Best time of day to depart from PLN

By day of week

Day	On-time	Avg delay
Monday	79%	20 min
Tuesday	76%	21 min
Wednesday	76%	27 min
Thursdaybest	83%	21 min
Friday	80%	18 min
Saturday	82%	27 min
Sunday	76%	22 min

Next: compare the busiest routes from PLN ↓

Busiest routes from PLN

Route	Flights/12mo	On-time	Avg delay
PLN → DTW (Detroit)	662	83%	19 min
PLN → ORD (Chicago)	237	59%	42 min

Where flights into PLN come from

Route	Flights/12mo	On-time	Avg delay
DTW (Detroit) → PLN	662	79%	19 min
ORD (Chicago) → PLN	238	73%	16 min

What causes delays at PLN

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

Late-arriving aircraft11%
Airline operations63%
National airspace system10%
Weather16%

Alternative airports near Pellston

Other airports within 120 miles, compared on departure reliability.

Airport	Distance	On-time departures	Avg delay
CIU — Chippewa County International Airport	49 mi	80%	25 min
TVC — Cherry Capital Airport	69 mi	77%	23 min
APN — Alpena County Regional Airport	69 mi	83%	23 min
ESC — Delta County Airport	111 mi	87%	22 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 PLN?: 19% of departures from Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County Airport left 15+ minutes late between 2024-06 and 2026-05, 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 PLN?: Flights scheduled around 10 a.m. depart on time 85% of the time at PLN, versus 72% around 3 p.m.. Booking before noon is the usual rule of thumb here.
How often are flights cancelled at PLN?: 6.7% of scheduled departures from PLN were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.

Popular route pages from this airport

Related guides

Based on 1,770 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.