Philadelphia (PHL) to Charlotte (CLT): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Philadelphia (PHL) to Charlotte (CLT) effectively runs on two schedules. In November 2024, 89% of arrivals were on time; in July 2024 that fell to 61% — a 28-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 78% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (85% vs 67%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 78%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 20 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.4%
- Flights/day
- 9.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 54m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 449 mi
Best airline from PHL to CLT
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlinesmost reliable | 79% | 19 min | 2.4% | 6,068 |
| Frontier Airlines | 72% | 23 min | 2.8% | 1,242 |
| Spirit Airlines | 71% | 26 min | 0.0% | 123 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from PHL to CLT
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (89% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (49%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 76% | 24 min |
| Tuesday | 83% | 18 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 84% | 15 min |
| Thursday | 76% | 21 min |
| Friday | 76% | 20 min |
| Saturday | 80% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 70% | 27 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft45%
- Airline operations32%
- National airspace system17%
- Weather5%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from PHL to CLT delayed?
- 22% of PHL–CLT 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 20 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from PHL to CLT?
- American Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 79%, based on 6,068 flights. 3 airlines flew PHL–CLT frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from PHL to CLT?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (89% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (49%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from PHL to CLT?
- The scheduled PHL–CLT flight time averages 1h 54m over 449 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are PHL to CLT flights cancelled?
- 2.4% 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 CLT?
- July 2024 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 28-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 7,444 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.