Minneapolis (MSP) to St. Louis (STL): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Minneapolis (MSP) to St. Louis (STL) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 93% of arrivals were on time; in July 2024 that fell to 64% — a 29-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 81% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (91% vs 71%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 81%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Flights/day
- 5.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 34m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 448 mi
Best airline from MSP to STL
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlinesmost reliable | 82% | 11 min | 0.6% | 1,282 |
| Delta Air Lines | 81% | 13 min | 1.1% | 2,005 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 77% | 23 min | 1.2% | 484 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MSP to STL
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (97% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (56%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 77% | 17 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 85% | 11 min |
| Wednesday | 83% | 11 min |
| Thursday | 80% | 17 min |
| Friday | 78% | 15 min |
| Saturday | 81% | 12 min |
| Sunday | 84% | 13 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft30%
- Airline operations52%
- National airspace system14%
- Weather5%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MSP to STL delayed?
- 19% of MSP–STL flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 14 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from MSP to STL?
- Southwest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 82%, based on 1,282 flights. 3 airlines flew MSP–STL frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MSP to STL?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (97% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (56%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MSP to STL?
- The scheduled MSP–STL flight time averages 1h 34m over 448 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 19% of the time.
- How often are MSP to STL flights cancelled?
- 0.9% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from MSP to STL?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 64% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 29-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,818 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.