Philadelphia (PHL) to Boston (BOS): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Philadelphia (PHL) to Boston (BOS) effectively runs on two schedules. In November 2024, 89% of arrivals were on time; in September 2025 that fell to 61% — a 29-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 76% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (88% vs 64%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 76%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.3%
- Flights/day
- 13
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 27m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 280 mi
Best airline from PHL to BOS
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 81% | 15 min | 2.3% | 3,153 |
| JetBlue Airways | 78% | 17 min | 2.0% | 1,939 |
| Frontier Airlines | 76% | 19 min | 2.4% | 413 |
| American Airlines | 73% | 23 min | 2.5% | 4,815 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from PHL to BOS
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (91% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (60%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 72% | 21 min |
| Tuesday | 79% | 14 min |
| Wednesday | 80% | 16 min |
| Thursday | 74% | 22 min |
| Friday | 75% | 19 min |
| Saturdaybest | 81% | 18 min |
| Sunday | 73% | 23 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft43%
- Airline operations25%
- National airspace system28%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from PHL to BOS delayed?
- 24% of PHL–BOS 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 19 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from PHL to BOS?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 81%, based on 3,153 flights. 4 airlines flew PHL–BOS frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from PHL to BOS?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (91% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (60%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from PHL to BOS?
- The scheduled PHL–BOS flight time averages 1h 27m over 280 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 24% of the time.
- How often are PHL to BOS flights cancelled?
- 2.3% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from PHL to BOS?
- September 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 61% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 29-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 10,320 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.