What's the Best Day of the Week to Fly to Avoid Delays?
By Sharon Ben-Moshe ·
The best days of the week to fly are Tuesday and Wednesday — about 82% and 81% of flights arrive on time. Sunday is the worst at roughly 75%. The gap comes from 14.1 million US flights from June 2024 through May 2026 of US DOT data.
On-time rates by day of week
- Tuesday — ~82% on time (best)
- Wednesday — ~81%
- Saturday — ~79%
- Monday and Thursday — ~77%
- Friday — ~77%
- Sunday — ~75% (worst)
Why midweek wins
Tuesdays and Wednesdays carry the lightest demand, so schedules have more slack to absorb problems. Sunday and Friday move the weekend crowds, and the system runs closer to capacity — leaving less room to recover from a single delay.
Stack the odds in your favor
Combine a midweek date with an early-morning departure and you're flying in the most reliable window there is. Also consider the worst months to fly and the most reliable airlines.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best day to fly to avoid delays?
Tuesday, with the highest on-time rate of the week at about 82%, followed closely by Wednesday.
What is the worst day to fly?
Sunday, at roughly 75% on time, as weekend return traffic pushes the system to its limits.