Boston Airport Delays: Logan vs Providence vs Manchester

Manchester recorded the highest published on-time departure rate in this comparison at 82.3%, followed by Providence at 81.5% and Boston Logan at 78.2%. Logan’s much larger network—86 destinations—can still be the better choice when it offers the only suitable nonstop flight.

All figures below describe historical departures, not live airport conditions or a prediction for an individual flight.

Key takeaways

• Manchester recorded 82.3% on-time departures across 11,953 departures in FlightRecord’s 24-month dataset.
• Providence recorded 81.5% on-time departures and a 15.7-minute average departure delay.
• Boston Logan recorded 78.2% on-time departures across 288,672 departures and served 86 destinations.
• Manchester and Providence had smaller networks—12 and 26 destinations, respectively—than Boston Logan.

Which Greater Boston and New England airport had the strongest historical departure record?

Manchester recorded the highest published on-time departure rate in this comparison at 82.3%, followed by Providence at 81.5% and Boston Logan at 78.2%. Logan’s much larger network—86 destinations—can still be the better choice when it offers the only suitable nonstop flight.

The following comparison keeps the measures separate so a higher on-time rate is not mistaken for a lower cancellation rate or a larger flight network.

• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) — 78.2% on-time departures, 17.1 minutes average departure delay, 2.0% cancelled, 288,672 departures, 86 destinations, and 13 airlines.
• Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD) — 81.5% on-time departures, 15.7 minutes average departure delay, 2.0% cancelled, 31,163 departures, 26 destinations, and 11 airlines.
• Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) — 82.3% on-time departures, 15.5 minutes average departure delay, 2.1% cancelled, 11,953 departures, 12 destinations, and 6 airlines.

When should the historical winner change the airport choice?

Manchester had the strongest published on-time rate, with Providence close behind. Both alternatives had much smaller sample sizes and route networks than Logan, so they are best treated as reliability-forward options when they serve the same trip. Logan’s network may be worth the trade-off for a nonstop, schedule flexibility, or a route unavailable elsewhere.

The term “on time” follows FlightRecord’s methodology: a flight arriving less than 15 minutes late. This guide reports departure-side airport measures, so it should not be read as an arrival guarantee.

How should travelers choose between Greater Boston and New England airports?

Use the airport comparison after narrowing the decision to real, bookable flights. These three checks keep a broad historical average in the right role.

• 1. Search the exact origin-destination pair at all three airports before comparing broad airport averages.
• 2. Use Manchester or Providence’s higher historical on-time rates as a tie-breaker only when the schedule, fare, and ground journey are acceptable.
• 3. Prefer a suitable nonstop at Logan over an inconvenient alternative connection; this guide measures airport departure history, not whole-trip reliability.

How were these airport delay figures calculated?

FlightRecord analyzed 14,111,289 U.S. domestic flight records from 2024-06 through 2026-05—a 24-month period. The site aggregates the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ Airline On-Time Statistics by airport, rather than presenting a live feed. The federal source reports scheduled and actual times, cancellations, diversions, and airport- and airline-level statistics.

For definitions, sample rules, and limitations, read FlightRecord’s full methodology. Historical performance does not guarantee that a future flight will be on time.

Frequently asked questions

Which airport near Boston had the best on-time rate?

Manchester-Boston Regional Airport recorded the highest published on-time departure rate of the three airports: 82.3% from June 2024 through May 2026. Manchester had only 12 listed destinations in the dataset, so it is a useful option only when its limited network fits the trip.

Is Providence more reliable than Boston Logan?

Providence recorded 81.5% on-time departures, compared with 78.2% at Boston Logan, in FlightRecord’s 24-month data. Providence served 26 listed destinations while Logan served 86. The historical edge is valuable when Providence has the right flight, but it is not a substitute for route availability.

Why does Boston Logan have a larger sample in this comparison?

Boston Logan recorded 288,672 departures in the dataset, far more than Providence’s 31,163 and Manchester’s 11,953. A larger airport operates a broader network and many more flights, so its aggregate number describes a much wider set of routes and airlines.

Can a smaller airport guarantee a smoother trip?

No. Smaller airports can show stronger historical departure averages, but an individual trip still depends on the airline, route, scheduled hour, weather, and air-traffic conditions. A smaller airport also may have fewer later flights available if the original flight is cancelled.