What Counts as a Delayed Flight? The DOT 15-Minute Rule

A flight counts as delayed when it arrives at the gate 15 minutes or more after its scheduled arrival time. A flight that arrives 14 minutes late is officially recorded as on time. This 15-minute threshold is the standard the US DOT uses for every airline in the country.

The 15-minute rule, defined

On-time performance is measured against the scheduled gate arrival time in the flight's own local time zone. Arrive up to 14 minutes late and the flight is on time; hit 15 minutes or more and it is a delay. There is no partial credit — a flight is simply on time or not.

Across 14.1 million US flights from June 2024 through May 2026, about 78% of flights met that mark, so roughly one flight in five is officially late. You can see the current figures on the airline rankings.

Arrival delay, not departure delay

The headline on-time statistic is based on arrival, not departure. A flight can push back late and still be counted on time if the crew makes up the difference in the air. That is why schedules often include buffer time built into the flight.

Cancellations and diversions are separate

A cancelled or diverted flight is not a 'delay' — it never completes as scheduled, so it is excluded from delay averages and reported on its own. We explain the distinction in cancelled vs. delayed flights.

Frequently asked questions

Is a flight late if it arrives exactly 15 minutes behind?

Yes. On time means fewer than 15 minutes late, so exactly 15 minutes counts as delayed.

Does the clock stop at landing or at the gate?

At the gate. The official time is when the aircraft arrives at the gate and the parking brake is set, not when the wheels touch down.

Do airlines pad their schedules?

Many do add buffer to published flight times, which helps arrival numbers even when a flight leaves late. That is one reason arrival on-time rates look better than your gate experience sometimes feels.