Should You Fly From a Different Nearby Airport Instead?
Often, yes. Washington Dulles (IAD) departs on time 83.2% of the time — 9.9 points better than nearby Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) at 73.3%, even though the two…
The FlightRecord Blog
Plain-English guides to flight delays and on-time performance, backed by 14 million US DOT flight records — the best times to fly, why flights run late, and how to check any flight, route, or airport.
Does Flight Distance Affect How Often You're Delayed?
Not in a straight line. Short flights under 500 miles arrive on time 79.6% of the time, and cross-country flights over 2,000 miles do just as well at 80.0% — but flights in the…
Which US Airports Have the Most Flight Cancellations?
LGA (New York LaGuardia) cancels more flights than any other major US airport — a 3.4% cancellation rate, more than double the 1.6% national average. DCA, EWR, DFW, and PHL round…
Are Red-Eye Flights More Reliable Than Evening Flights?
Yes — flights after 11 p.m. recover noticeably from the evening slump, though they still fall short of early morning. On-time rates bottom out at 66.8% around 8 p.m., climb back…
Which US Airports Are Best for Connecting Flights?
Portland (PDX) and Salt Lake City (SLC) are the most reliable major hubs for a connecting flight, both departing on time about 84% of the time, with Washington Dulles (IAD) close…
Is Weather Really to Blame for Flight Delays?
Not as much as the official numbers suggest. US airlines report weather as the direct cause of just 6.1% of flight delay minutes — but that figure only counts extreme weather…