Late flights happen for a number of reasons — from weather to aircraft maintenance or crew availability — but an important factor is the airport you’re flying from. A report from aviation analytics company Cirium looked at the on-time performance of major airports (those with 25 million or more annual passengers around the globe) throughout 2024. Discover the U.S. airports that ranked highest on the list of most on-time airports.
10. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport – Washington
Percentage of on-time departures: 80.51%
In 2024, more than 413,000 flights operated in and out of SeaTac Airport on 135 routes. The airport — a hub for Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines — managed to get more than 80% of flights off the ground on schedule. Better yet: The average duration of flights that were delayed at SeaTac was the shortest in the report, at just 52 minutes.
9. Philadelphia International Airport – Pennsylvania
Percentage of on-time departures: 80.75%
The Northeastern U.S. is home to some of the most congested airspace in the world. Despite this, Philly’s airport (mostly) overcame those challenges to land at No. 9 on the list of major U.S. airports with the best on-time performance. More than 80% of the 275,000 flights at Philadelphia International left the gate on schedule in 2024.
8. Los Angeles International Airport – California
Percentage of on-time departures: 81.06%
LAX is one of the world’s busiest airports, but the sunny SoCal weather is one factor aiding its impressive on-time performance. Over 514,000 flights operated through the airport in 2024, the highest volume of any airport in the top 10 on the list.
7. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport – Washington, D.C.
Percentage of on-time departures: 81.11%
In 2024, over 81% of flights operated on time at D.C.’s National Airport. Though the airport only serves domestic flights, unlike its neighboring airport Dulles, it is closer to downtown, allowing visitors quicker access to some of the nation’s most famous historic landmarks.
6. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport – Michigan
Percentage of on-time departures: 82.06%
The Midwest makes an appearance at No. 6 on the list of on-time U.S. airports with Detroit’s Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, a hub for Delta Air Lines. Travelers at the airport will find plenty to occupy them before departure, too — Detroit ranked as the second-best U.S. airport for shopping, according to a recent study from CouponBirds.
5. Washington Dulles International Airport – Virginia
Percentage of on-time departures: 82.23%
Dulles Airport — D.C.’s primary international gateway — saw more than 82% of its flights take off on time in 2024. That’s better than the global average for major airports, which was just 79.14% on time. With 150 routes offered, Dulles is a major hub for United Airlines.
4. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport – Minnesota
Percentage of on-time departures: 82.27%
If you’re looking to avoid a flight delay, consider flying through the Twin Cities. One of the oldest airports in the country, dating back to 1920, Minneapolis-St. Paul is now the second-largest hub for Delta Air Lines, the U.S. airline with the best on-time performance in 2024.
3. New York LaGuardia Airport – New York
Percentage of on-time departures: 82.39%
Anyone who’s flown through New York during a summer afternoon thunderstorm or a winter weather event might be surprised to see LaGuardia on the list of most punctual U.S. airports. But on-time performance is just one of several areas in which LaGuardia is shedding its old reputation. The airport spent a whopping $8 billion over the last decade completely overhauling most of its outdated terminals and reconfiguring taxiways for more efficient aircraft movements.
One factor that seems to be helping on-time stats is the FAA’s slot waiver program. Under this program, airlines are allowed to trim their schedules and still keep their valuable slots at this capacity-controlled airport through October 2025 due to air traffic control staffing shortages.
2. Salt Lake City International Airport – Utah
Percentage of on-time departures: 83.80%
Travelers boarding flights to any one of the 104 destinations served from Salt Lake City International had the second-highest likelihood of departing on time at any U.S. airport. Like LaGuardia, Salt Lake City’s airport, another hub for Delta, also recently underwent a major upgrade.
1. Honolulu International Airport – Hawaii
Percentage of on-time departures: 85.45%
It isn’t just the beaches in Hawaii that have a laid-back vibe. Travelers at Honolulu International Airport aren’t stressing too much about their trips, either — over 85% of the airport’s flights in 2024 operated on schedule. In terms of global airports, only Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh King Khalid International Airport had better stats, with 86.65% average on-time departures throughout the year.
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