How often are flights delayed at RST?

23% of departures from Rochester International 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 RST?

Flights scheduled around 5 a.m. depart on time 88% of the time at RST, versus 67% around 6 p.m.. Booking before noon is the usual rule of thumb here.

What is the worst month for delays at RST?

In this dataset, January 2026 was the weakest month at RST, with 64% of departures on time.

How often are flights cancelled at RST?

2.3% of scheduled departures from RST were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.

Rochester International Airport (RST): Delays & On-Time Performance

Data through May 2026

Rochester International Airport (RST) is a tale of two seasons: departures ran 91% on-time in October 2024 but sank to 64% in January 2026. Across the year it averages 77% against a national 78%, over roughly 4 departures a day to 2 destinations.

Departures on-time: 77%; left <15 min late
Avg dep delay: 22 min
Arrivals on-time: 73%
Cancelled: 2.3%
Destinations: 2; nonstop
Airlines: 4

Plan your departure from RST

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

Best departure time: Around 5 a.m.; 88% on-time
Best day to fly: Tuesday; 78% on-time
Most reliable airline here: Envoy Air; 79% on-time from RST
Cancellation risk: 2.3%; above the US average

Check routes from RST ↓Compare nearby airports ↓

Monthly on-time trend

Best time of day to depart from RST

By day of week

Day	On-time	Avg delay
Monday	71%	29 min
Tuesdaybest	78%	18 min
Wednesday	75%	24 min
Thursday	73%	27 min
Friday	69%	28 min
Saturday	74%	21 min
Sunday	75%	21 min

Next: compare the busiest routes from RST ↓

Busiest routes from RST

Route	Flights/12mo	On-time	Avg delay
RST → ORD (Chicago)	1,058	69%	28 min
RST → MSP (Minneapolis)	274	80%	18 min

Compare airlines departing RST ↓

Where flights into RST come from

Route	Flights/12mo	On-time	Avg delay
ORD (Chicago) → RST	1,058	67%	29 min
MSP (Minneapolis) → RST	274	82%	19 min

What causes delays at RST

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

Late-arriving aircraft21%
Airline operations45%
National airspace system16%
Weather17%

Alternative airports near Rochester

Other airports within 120 miles, compared on departure reliability.

Airport	Distance	On-time departures	Avg delay
LSE — La Crosse Regional Airport	62 mi	84%	14 min
MCW — Mason City Municipal Airport	66 mi	79%	29 min
MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field	76 mi	81%	15 min
EAU — Chippewa Valley Regional Airport	83 mi	79%	32 min
ALO — Waterloo Regional Airport	93 mi	80%	25 min

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

Airline performance at RST

Airline	On-time departures	Avg delay	Flights
Envoy Air	79%	16 min	703
SkyWest Airlines	77%	25 min	1,618
Endeavor Air	77%	24 min	125

Frequently asked questions

How often are flights delayed at RST?: 23% of departures from Rochester International 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 RST?: Flights scheduled around 5 a.m. depart on time 88% of the time at RST, versus 67% around 6 p.m.. Booking before noon is the usual rule of thumb here.
What is the worst month for delays at RST?: In this dataset, January 2026 was the weakest month at RST, with 64% of departures on time.
How often are flights cancelled at RST?: 2.3% of scheduled departures from RST were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.

Popular route pages from this airport

Related guides

Based on 2,460 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.