How often are flights delayed at PSE?

15% of departures from Mercedita International Airport left 15+ minutes late between 2024-06 and 2026-05, with an average departure delay of 12 minutes. The national on-time average over the same period was 78%.

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

Flights scheduled around 6 a.m. depart on time 97% of the time at PSE, versus 79% around 1 a.m.. Booking before noon is the usual rule of thumb here.

How often are flights cancelled at PSE?

2.2% of scheduled departures from PSE were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.

Mercedita International Airport (PSE): Delays & On-Time Performance

Data through May 2026

Mercedita International Airport (PSE) runs noticeably smoother than most US airports: 86% of its ~2 daily departures leave on time, 8 points above the national average, with an average departure delay of just 12 minutes. 2 airlines fly from Ponce, PR to 2 destinations.

Departures on-time: 86%; left <15 min late
Avg dep delay: 12 min
Arrivals on-time: 74%
Cancelled: 2.2%
Destinations: 2; nonstop
Airlines: 2

Plan your departure from PSE

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

Best departure time: Around 6 a.m.; 97% on-time
Best day to fly: Wednesday; 91% on-time
Most reliable airline here: JetBlue Airways; 86% on-time from PSE
Cancellation risk: 2.2%; above the US average

Check routes from PSE ↓Compare nearby airports ↓

Monthly on-time trend

Best time of day to depart from PSE

By day of week

Day	On-time	Avg delay
Monday	82%	18 min
Tuesday	84%	10 min
Wednesdaybest	91%	6 min
Thursday	86%	10 min
Friday	88%	6 min
Saturday	85%	12 min
Sunday	81%	13 min

Next: compare the busiest routes from PSE ↓

Busiest routes from PSE

Route	Flights/12mo	On-time	Avg delay
PSE → MCO (Orlando)	606	87%	11 min
PSE → JFK (New York)	102	77%	14 min

Compare airlines departing PSE ↓

Where flights into PSE come from

Route	Flights/12mo	On-time	Avg delay
MCO (Orlando) → PSE	606	78%	16 min
JFK (New York) → PSE	102	52%	34 min

What causes delays at PSE

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

Late-arriving aircraft82%
Airline operations9%
National airspace system9%

Alternative airports near Ponce

Other airports within 120 miles, compared on departure reliability.

Airport	Distance	On-time departures	Avg delay
SJU — Luis Munoz Marin International Airport	47 mi	77%	19 min
BQN — Rafael Hernández International Airport	50 mi	77%	19 min
STT — Cyril E. King Airport	107 mi	78%	21 min
STX — Henry E. Rohlsen Airport	118 mi	73%	26 min

Compare the airport-level record first, then check the exact route you plan to book.

Airline performance at PSE

Airline	On-time departures	Avg delay	Flights
JetBlue Airways	86%	12 min	965
Frontier Airlines	84%	10 min	406

Frequently asked questions

How often are flights delayed at PSE?: 15% of departures from Mercedita International Airport left 15+ minutes late between 2024-06 and 2026-05, with an average departure delay of 12 minutes. The national on-time average over the same period was 78%.
What is the best time of day to depart from PSE?: Flights scheduled around 6 a.m. depart on time 97% of the time at PSE, versus 79% around 1 a.m.. Booking before noon is the usual rule of thumb here.
How often are flights cancelled at PSE?: 2.2% of scheduled departures from PSE were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.

Popular route pages from this airport

Related guides

Based on 1,371 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.