Delay to Departure Report: What are the best and worst routes for flight delays in America?

According to the FAA, over 2.9 million passengers fly in and out of American airports each day, with an average of 45,000 flights taking off. 

As we head into peak travel season, many of us will be on the lookout for our next vacation destination. Already, TSA travel data has revealed a significant increase in air travel in June 2024, with approximately 51 million passengers – an uplift of 6.1% compared to the same period in 2023. 

Flying brings a mix of excitement and anxiety. The thrill of jetting off to a new destination can quickly be overshadowed by the frustration of flight delays, which can easily ruin the vacation mood. Delays can occur for a range of reasons, including weather conditions, mechanical issues, and even crew shortages. While some delays are unavoidable, certain routes and airlines are more prone to delays than others. 

Last year, American Airlines faced a hefty fine of $41 million by the federal government – the largest fine against an airline for long ground delays in a decade, for incidents which saw passengers kept on board planes without a chance to exit. 

In May this year, Volaris faced a similar fine of $300,000 after a flight from Mexico City to Chicago O’Hare had a tarmac delay of four hours and 35 minutes in 2022. A similar incident occurred in 2021, when 157 passengers experienced a delay of five hours and 32 minutes. Alongside the fine, Volaris was ordered to cease and desist from future violations. 

To avoid miscommunication and increased customer dissatisfaction, airlines need to be clear, consistent, and prompt with flight updates. SMS solutions can help airlines mitigate the impact of flight delays and cancellations while supporting busy front desks by keeping customers informed and up-to-date. 

With passengers eager for regular updates and awareness, especially when traveling internationally, enhanced communication through SMS automations creates a system that is fast, efficient, and customized to suit specific user journeys, simplifying outbound SMS and keeping travelers informed every step of the way. 

Which flight routes are most delayed?

To find out which flight routes passengers are most likely to encounter delays, our team crunched the numbers and analyzed over 500 of the most commonly flown flight routes across the US’ 25 largest airports, based on passenger volume. 

Where possible, we used a 50/50 split of international and domestic routes and chose the most commonly scheduled flight codes. We used FlightRadar24 to analyze the average scheduled arrival time and actual arrival time of every completed flight over the past year to reveal which flight routes suffer most from delays or benefit from an early or on-time arrival.

The Delay to Departure Report found that the US’s most delayed flight route is from Orlando International Airport to Philadelphia International Airport.

With an average scheduled arrival time of 2:50 PM, flights were found to typically land at 3:25 PM, facing an average delay of 35 minutes. 

For international travelers, the route from Miami International to Toronto Pearson Airport in Canada ranks as the most delayed on average, with passengers arriving on average 29 minutes later than scheduled. 

Meanwhile, domestic travelers flying from Orlando to Boston, Massachusetts experience the third most delayed flight route, with an average delay of 24 minutes. 

Top 50 most delayed routes

Home Airport	Destination Airport	Airline	Flight Code	Average Scheduled Arrival	Average Actual Arrival	Time Delayed
(MCO) Orlando International Airport	(PHL) Philadelphia International Airport – Philadelphia, PA	American Airlines	AA2615	2:50 PM	3:25 PM	0:35
(MIA) Miami International Airport	(YYZ) Toronto Pearson International Airport – Toronto, Canada	Air Canada	AC1647	1:28 PM	1:57 PM	0:29
(MCO) Orlando International Airport	(BOS) Boston Logan International Airport – Boston, MA	JetBlue Airways	B62052	5:37 PM	6:01 PM	0:24
(MCO) Orlando International Airport	(BQN) Rafael Hernandez, International Airport – Aguadilla, PR	JetBlue Airways	B6430	4:58 AM	5:22 AM	0:24
(FLL) Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport	(YYZ) Pearson Toronto International Airport – Toronto, Canada	Air Canada	AC1623	4:13 PM	4:34 PM	0:21
(MCO) Orlando International Airport	(YUL) Pierre Elliott Trudeau International – Montreal, Canada	Air Canada	AC1637	2:08 PM	2:26 PM	0:18
(FLL) Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport	(KIN) Norman Manley International Airport – Kingston, Jamaica	JetBlue Airways	B61375	2:06 PM	2:24 PM	0:18
(FLL) Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport	(SDQ) Las Américas International Airport- Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic	Spirit Airlines	NK145	3:45 PM	4:03 PM	0:18
(DFW) Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport	(QRO) Querétaro Intercontinental Airport –  Querétaro, México	American Airlines	AA2299	2:29 PM	2:46 PM	0:17
(BOS) Boston Logan International Airport	(SJU) Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport- –  San Juan, PR	JetBlue Airways	B6861	12:08 PM	12:24 PM	0:16
(DFW) Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport	(IAH) George Bush Intercontinental Airport –  Houston, TX	American Airlines	AA1424	11:21 AM	11:37 AM	0:16
(CLT) Charlotte Douglas International Airport	(MUC) Munich Airport -, Munich, Germany	Lufthansa	LH429	9:12 AM	9:28 AM	0:16
(PHX) Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport	(LHR) Heathrow Airport – London, United Kingdom	British Airways	BA288	1:25 PM	1:41 PM	0:16
(LAX) Los Angeles International Airport	(SAL) El Salvador International Airport Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez – Comalapa, El Salvador	AVIANCA	AV525	4:25 PM	4:40 PM	0:15
(ATL) Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport	(LHR) Heathrow Airport, London, United Kingdom	Delta Air Lines	DL30	6:55 AM	7:09 AM	0:14
(LAX) Los Angeles International Airport	(SFO) San Francisco International Airport – San Francisco, CA	United Airlines	UA447	12:00 PM	12:14 PM	0:14
(MIA) Miami International Airport	(BOS) Boston Logan International Airport – Boston, MA	American Airlines	AA618	6:08 PM	6:22 PM	0:14
(LAX) Los Angeles International Airport	(YYZ) Toronto Pearson International Airport –  Toronto, Canada	Air Canada	AC788	7:17 PM	7:31 PM	0:14
(SEA) Seattle–Tacoma International Airport	(ICN) Incheon International Airport- Seoul, Republic of Korea	Asiana Airlines	OZ271	5:46 PM	6:00 PM	0:14
(PHX) Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport	(YYZ) Toronto Pearson International Airport –  Toronto, Canada	Air Canada	AC1720	6:48 PM	7:02 PM	0:14
(BWI) Baltimore/Washington International Airport	(LHR) Heathrow Airport, London, United Kingdom	British Airways	BA228	8:59 AM	9:12 AM	0:13
(DFW) Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport	(AUS) Austin-Bergstrom International Airport – Austin, TX	American Airlines	AA1186	1:53 PM	2:06 PM	0:13
(SAN) San Diego International Airport	(OAK) San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport – Oakland, CA	Southwest Airlines	WN1924	8:28 PM	8:40 PM	0:12
(ORD) O’Hare International Airport	(FRA) Frankfurt Airport – Frankfurt, Germany	United Airlines	UA907	9:50 AM	10:02 AM	0:12
(LAX) Los Angeles International Airport	(DFW) Dallas Fort Worth International – Dallas, TX	American Airlines	AA412	1:09 PM	1:21 PM	0:12
(JFK) John F. Kennedy International Airport	(FLL)  Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport – Fort Lauderdale, FL	JetBlue Airways	B61601	2:45 PM	2:57 PM	0:12
(PHX) Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport	(LAS) Harry Reid International Airport –  Las Vegas, NV	Southwest Airlines	WN5690	7:34 AM	7:22 AM	0:12
(DCA) Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport	(CLT) Charlotte Douglas International Airport – Charlotte,  NC	American Airlines	AA1155	9:57 AM	10:09 AM	0:12
(DFW) Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport	(MTY) General Mariano Escobedo International Airport – Monterrey, Mexico	American Airlines	AA2168	1:13 PM	1:25 PM	0:12
(SAN) San Diego International Airport	(YYZ) Toronto Pearson International Airport –  Toronto, Canada	Air Canada	AC1092	6:10 PM	6:22 PM	0:12
(LAX) Los Angeles International Airport	(PHX) Phoenix Sky Harbor International – Phoenix, AZ	American Airlines	AA1683	11:40 AM	11:51 AM	0:11
(LAS) Harry Reid International Airport	(YYZ) Toronto Pearson International Airport –  Toronto, Canada	WestJet	WS1119	6:29 AM	6:40 AM	0:11
(IAH) George Bush Intercontinental Airport	(MTY) General Mariano Escobedo International Airport – Monterrey, Mexico	United Airlines	UA5222	8:42 AM	8:52 AM	0:10
(IAH) George Bush Intercontinental Airport	(LHR) Heathrow Airport, – London, United Kingdom	British Airways	BA194	6:53 AM	7:03 AM	0:10
(JFK) John F. Kennedy International Airport	(BOS) Boston-Logan International Airport – Boston, MA	JetBlue Airways	B6518	12:50 PM	1:00 PM	0:10
(MIA) Miami International Airport	(DCA) Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport – Washington, DC	American Airlines	AA2836	3:34 PM	3:44 PM	0:10
(MCO) Orlando International Airport	(SJO) Juan Santamaria Airport – San Jose, Costa Rica.	Spirit Airlines	NK1309	1:02 PM	1:11 PM	0:09
(DFW) Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport	(LHR) Heathrow Airport, London, United Kingdom	American Airlines	AA20	7:12 AM	7:21 AM	0:09
(DFW) Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport	(MCO) Orlando International Airport – Orlando, FL	American Airlines	AA1737	2:10 PM	2:19 PM	0:09
(LAX) Los Angeles International Airport	(LAS) Harry Reid International Airport -Las Vegas, NV	Southwest Airlines	WN2920	2:47 PM	2:56 PM	0:09
(JFK) John F. Kennedy International Airport	(SDQ) Las Américas International Airport- Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic	JetBlue Airways	B6209	10:53 AM	11:02 AM	0:09
(IAH) George Bush Intercontinental Airport	(SAN) El Salvador International Airport Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez – El Salvador, El Salvador	United Airlines	UA1441	12:31 PM	12:40 PM	0:09
(EWR) Newark Liberty International Airport	(SJU) Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport- –  San Juan, PR	United Airlines	UA2143	12:20 PM	12:28 PM	0:08
(DEN) Denver International Airport	(SFO) San Francisco International Airport – San Francisco, CA	United Airlines	UA1561	1:13 PM	1:21 PM	0:08
(SEA) Seattle–Tacoma International Airport	(LAS) Harry Reid International Airport – Las Vegas, NV	Alaska Airlines	AS600	5:01 PM	5:09 PM	0:08
(LGA) LaGuardia Airport	(NAS) Lynden Pindling International Airport – Nassau, Bahamas	JetBlue Airways	B62439	2:21 PM	2:29 PM	0:08
(SAN) San Diego International Airport	(LHR) Heathrow Airport – London, United Kingdom	British Airways	BA264	11:54 AM	12:02 PM	0:08
(MIA) Miami International Airport	(EWR) Newark Liberty International Airport	United Airlines	UA762	8:37 PM	8:44 PM	0:07
(MIA) Miami International Airport	(LAX) Los Angeles International Airport	American Airlines	AA336	5:35 PM	5:42 PM	0:07
(SEA) Seattle–Tacoma International Airport	(LHR) Heathrow Airport, London, United Kingdom	British Airways	BA52	6:53 AM	7:00 PM	0:07

Which flight routes are the earliest to arrive?

It’s not all bad news, our analysis also pinpointed domestic and international flight routes which consistently beat their scheduled arrival times – providing travelers with extra time to disembark and relax after a long flight. 

The flight from Detroit Metropolitan Airport to Seoul, Republic of Korea tops the list, with an impressive average actual arrival time of 4:15 PM, a full 39 minutes ahead of its scheduled arrival time of 4:54 PM. 

Domestically, passengers flying from LaGuardia to Chicago O’Hare International enjoy arriving approximately 33 minutes earlier than scheduled, while travelers from Detroit Metropolitan to the bright lights of Las Vegas, Nevada typically land 30 minutes ahead of their planned arrival slots. 

This reliability isn’t limited to domestic routes alone – international flights like Los Angeles International to Tokyo, Japan typically see passengers disembarking an average of 25 minutes earlier than scheduled, with an average arrival time of 8:37 PM despite a scheduled arrival time of 9:02 PM.  

Top 50 early arrival routes 

Home Airport	Destination Airport	Airline	Flight Code	Average Scheduled Arrival	Average Actual Arrival	Time Arrived Early
(DTW) Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport	(ICN) Incheon International Airport- Seoul, Republic of Korea	Delta Air Lines	DL159	4:54 PM	4:15 PM	0:39
(LGA) LaGuardia Airport	(ORD) (ORD) Chicago O’hare International Airport – Chicago, IL	United Airlines	UA2389	8:13 AM	7:40 AM	0:33
(DTW) Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport	(LAS) Harry Reid International Airport – Las Vegas, NV	Delta Air Lines	DL926	10:12 AM	9:42 AM	0:30
(LAX) Los Angeles International Airport	(JFK) John F Kennedy International Airport – New York City, NY	Delta Air Lines	DL688	5:54 PM	5:26 PM	0:28
(DEN) Denver International Airport	(YVR) Vancouver International Airport – Vancouver, Canada	Air Canada	AC575	8:17 PM	7:49 PM	0:28
(EWR) Newark Liberty International Airport	(ORD) Chicago O’hare International Airport – Chicago, IL	United Airlines	UA1010	7:42 AM	7:16 AM	0:26
(SFO) San Francisco International Airport	(DEN) Denver International Airport – Denver, CO	United Airlines	UA1003	8:46 AM	8:20 AM	0:26
(LAX) Los Angeles International Airport	(HND) Haneda Airport –  Tokyo, Japan	ANA	NH125	9:02 PM	8:37 PM	0:25
(EWR) Newark Liberty International Airport	(FLL) Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport – Fort Lauderdale, FL	United Airlines	UA1364	9:18 AM	8:53 AM	0:25
(PHL) Philadelphia International Airport	(ORD) Chicago O’hare International Airport – Chicago, IL	American Airlines	AA1652	8:53 AM	8:28 AM	0:25
(EWR) Newark Liberty International Airport	(LHR) Heathrow Airport – London, United Kingdom	United Airlines	UA934	8:37 PM	8:12 PM	0:25
(BOS) Boston – Logan International Airport	(ORD) Chicago O’hare International Airport – Chicago, IL	American Airlines	AA2265	7:28 AM	7:04 AM	0:24
(BOS) Boston- Logan International Airport	(CLT) Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, NC	American Airlines	AA1790	9:10 AM	8:46 AM	0:24
(DCA) Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport	(MIA) Miami International Airport – Miami, FL	American Airlines	AA401	9:09 AM	8:45 AM	0:24
(SFO) San Francisco International Airport	(JFK) John F Kennedy International Airport – New York City, NY	Delta Air Lines	DL902	3:59 PM	3:35 PM	0:24
(LGA) LaGuardia Airport	(AUA) Queen Beatrix International Airport – Oranjestad, Aruba	American Airlines	AA1602	12:56 PM	12:32 PM	0:24
(DTW) Detroit Metropolitan Airport	(HND) Haneda Airport –  Tokyo, Japan	Delta Air Lines	DL275	3:18 PM	2:54 PM	0:24
(LAS) Harry Reid International Airport	(MEX) Mexico City International Airport – Mexico City, Mexico	Aeromexico	AM481	6:44 PM	6:21 PM	0:23
(SLC) Salt Lake City International Airport	(PVR) Licenciado Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico	Delta Air Lines	DL1948	3:26 PM	3:03 PM	0:23
(SFO) San Francisco International Airport	(PHX) Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport – Phoenix, AZ	American Airlines	AA3270	7:54 AM	7:31 AM	0:23
(PHL) Philadelphia International Airport	(DEN) Denver International Airport – Denver, CO	United Airlines	UA2383	9:53 AM	9:30 AM	0:23
(BOS) Boston- Logan International Airport	(DUB) Dublin Airport – Dublin, Ireland	Aer Lingus	EI132	5:00 AM	4:37 AM	0:23
(PHL) Philadelphia International Airport	(YYZ) Pearson Toronto International Airport – Toronto, Canada	American Airlines	AA5880	10:21 AM	9:58 AM	0:23
(PHL) Philadelphia International Airport	(YUL) Pierre Elliott Trudeau International – Montreal, Canada	American Airlines	AA5717	11:08 AM	10:45 AM	0:23
(MSP) Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport	(LAS) Harry Reid International Airport – Las Vegas, NV	Delta Air Lines	DL1448	8:21 AM	7:59 AM	0:22
(PHL) Philadelphia International Airport	(MCO) Orlando International Airport – Orlando, FL	American Airlines	AA1979	9:25 AM	9:03 AM	0:22
(DCA) Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport	(EWR) Newark Liberty International Airport – New York, NJ	United Airlines	UA4589	8:29 AM	8:07 AM	0:22
(PHL) Philadelphia International Airport	(AMS) Schiphol Amsterdam Airport – Amsterdam, Netherlands	American Airlines	AA204	9:10 AM	8:48 AM	0:22
(MSP) Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport	(LAX) Los Angeles International Airport – Los Angeles, CA	Delta Air Lines	DL974	9:11 AM	8:49 AM	0:22
(FLL) Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport	(NAS) Lynden Pindling International Airport – Nassau, Bahamas	JetBlue Airways	B6693	7:46 AM	7:25 AM	0:21
(LAX) Los Angeles International Airport	(ORD) Chicago O’hare International Airport – Chicago, IL	United Airlines	UA2039	2:48 PM	2:28 PM	0:20
(DEN) Denver International Airport	(LAX) Los Angeles International Airport – Los Angeles, CA	United Airlines	UA741	7:36 PM	7:16 PM	0:20
(SFO) San Francisco International Airport	(SEA) Seattle Tacoma International Airport – Seattle, WA	Alaska Airlines	AS1043	8:18 AM	7:58 AM	0:20
(IAH) George Bush Intercontinental Airport	(EWR) Newark Liberty International Airport, New York, NJ	United Airlines	UA1657	10:35 AM	10:15 AM	0:20
(LGA) LaGuardia Airport	(MIA) Miami International – Miami, FL	American Airlines	AA2510	9:43 AM	9:23 AM	0:20
(DTW) Detroit Metropolitan Airport	(MCO) Orlando International Airport – Miami, FL	Delta Air Lines	DL1061	10:29 AM	10:09 AM	0:20
(SLC) Salt Lake City International Airport	(SEA) Seattle Tacoma International Airport – Seattle, WA	Delta Air Lines	DL1674	9:29 AM	9:09 AM	0:20
(SAN) San Diego International Airport	(ORD) Chicago O’hare International Airport  – Chicago, IL	United Airlines	UA1502	1:01 PM	12:40 PM	0:20
(BOS) Boston – Logan International Airport	(LGA) LaGuardia Airport, New York, NY	Delta Air Lines	DL5685	8:28 AM	8:09 AM	0:19
(DTW) Detroit Metropolitan Airport	(ATL) Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport – Atlanta, GA	Delta Air Lines	DL2375	7:25 AM	7:06 AM	0:19
(FLL) Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport	(EWR) Newark Liberty International Airport, New York, NJ	United Airlines	UA1537	9:09 AM	8:50 AM	0:19
(PHX) Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport	(ORD) Chicago O’hare International Airport – Chicago, IL	American Airlines	AA1942	12:25 PM	12:07 PM	0:18
(SLC) Salt Lake City International Airport	(MEX) Mexico City International Airport – Mexico City, Mexico	Delta Air Lines	DL628	2:02 PM	1:44 PM	0:18
(ORD) Chicago O’Hare International Airport	(LAX) Los Angeles International Airport – Los Angeles, CA	United Airlines	UA2449	9:51 AM	9:33 AM	0:18
(ORD) Chicago O’Hare International Airport	(EWR) Newark Liberty International Airport – New York, NJ	United Airlines	UA563	10:26 AM	10:08 AM	0:18
(IAH) Harry Reid International Airport	(LAX) Los Angeles International Airport – Los Angeles, CA	Southwest Airlines	WN2632	7:35 AM	7:17 AM	0:18
(SEA) Seattle–Tacoma International Airport	(ORD) Chicago O’hare International – Chicago, IL	Alaska Airlines	AS408	12:06 PM	11:48 AM	0:18
(EWR) Newark Liberty International Airport	(TPA) Tampa International Airport, Tampa, FL	United Airlines	UA1979	9:58 AM	9:40 AM	0:18
(PHL) Philadelphia International Airport	(DFW) Dallas Fort Worth International AIrport – Dallas, TX	American Airlines	AA1930	7:33 AM	7:15 AM	0:18
(LAX) Los Angeles International Airport	(PTY) Tocumen International Airport – Tocumen, Panama	Copa Airlines	CM473	10:33 AM	10:15 AM	0:18

Which airports have the most delayed flights?

Timely arrivals are critical when traveling by air, with delayed departures influencing travel plans and overall flight experiences. Our comprehensive analysis of flight times across each of the major US airports highlights which airports face the most delays, and where travelers can expect early arrivals.   Our findings reveal that Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Orlando International Airport had the most delayed flights, with flights arriving an average of 4 minutes later than scheduled. 

This delay trend found in both airports could point to challenges specific to the regions, particularly issues related to adverse weather conditions like hurricanes or tornadoes, operational challenges, or air traffic congestion.  

For those flying in and out of Orlando, delays are all too frequent. With over 100 domestic and 50 international destinations, Orlando welcomed more than 57.7 million passengers in 2023 as the busiest airport in the state of Florida. Serving as a gateway for millions of travelers visiting popular attractions like Disney World and Universal Studios, delayed departures and arrivals can significantly impact travel during peak season. 

In the past month alone, 133 flights were canceled and 351 were delayed in a single day due to widespread thunderstorms and airspace constraints across Florida – severely impacting people’s travel.

Which airports lead in early arrivals?

Some airports were found to excel in early arrivals, providing passengers with smoother travel experiences. Across the board, 22 of the airports analyzed were found to have flights arriving ahead of schedule.

At the top of the list was Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport in Minnesota, with an average early arrival time of 14 minutes. 

Following close behind in joint second place was LaGuardia Airport in New York, Newark Liberty in New Jersey, and Philadelphia International in Pennsylvania, with flights typically arriving 12 minutes ahead of schedule. 

This reliability can significantly contribute to easing travel transitions for passengers, enhancing the overall travel experience as passengers consistently value punctuality and transparency when traveling by air. 

Average arrival status of US airports

Which airline has the most delayed flights?

While all airlines strive for punctuality, some have encountered challenges in meeting their scheduled arrival times. 

JetBlue Airways stands out as the only US carrier with flights arriving, on average, delayed. Despite the data finding a minimal average delay of one minute, this highlights that JetBlue could further refine its operations to enhance its punctuality and competitiveness. 

This coincides with JetBlue being crowned as the worst airline in the US for the second consecutive year by the Wall Street Journal, due to extreme delays, frequent cancellations, and two-hour tarmac waits. The airline is also continuing to struggle with broader industry challenges, including aircraft delivery delays, parts shortages, and disruptions in air traffic.    

In contrast, Delta Air Lines frequently outperforms its scheduled arrival times across the board, with flights arriving, on average, 25 minutes ahead of schedule. This performance consistently ensures that passengers arrive at their destinations sooner than expected, leaving them with additional time to disembark and enjoy their vacations. 

In second place, United Airlines manages a steady performance across its flight schedules, leading to flights arriving on average eight minutes earlier than scheduled, with Southwest Airlines following closely behind at six minutes earlier than planned. 

The routes that arrive right on time

Despite analyzing over 500 routes, only 18 routes arrived on time on average including eight domestic routes. Of the 10 international routes,. JFK to Cancun, Denver to Phoenix, and Ronald Regan Washington to Hamilton, Bermuda are just some of the routes found to have passengers arriving exactly on schedule.  

Delta Air Lines dominated the list, with seven flight routes arriving exactly on time, while Salt Lake City International Airport had the largest number of flights arriving on time, including routes to Amsterdam, Netherlands, Calgary, Canada, and San Francisco, California. 

Julia Applegate, Demand Generation Manager at Esendex USA, commented on the findings: 

“For travelers, experiencing an unexpected delay in your flight plan can be extremely stressful and disruptive. Not only does it sour the vacation mood, but it also leaves passengers worrying about their connecting travel plans, particularly when it comes to traveling internationally.    

“Our analysis sheds light on the current operational strengths and challenges within the aviation industry, underscoring the importance of reliability and efficiency in air travel. Passengers need to trust that their airlines can get them to their destinations promptly and with minimal disruption and that if there are delays, they are clearly communicated and handled efficiently.

“By introducing automated SMS solutions, like SMS API and Bulk SMS, airports and airlines can not only enhance customers’ travel experiences but also handle any sudden delays or challenges smoothly and effectively. Clearly communicating and providing automated and timely updates also frees up staff to handle other value-add tasks to resolve issues as they arise.”

Find out more about SMS Solutions for the Travel Industry here: SMS Solutions for the Travel Industry.

Methodology

In total, Esendex analyzed over 500 of the most commonly flown flight routes across the 25 largest airports in the US, based on passenger numbers. Where possible, Esendex used a 50/50 split of international and domestic routes. Esendex listed the most common domestic and international flight routes and their flight codes using Flightsfrom.com. 

Esendex then took the most commonly scheduled flight code and used FlightRadar24 to analyze every completed flight per flight code, over the past year, taking an average scheduled arrival time and an average actual flight arrival time. The resulting time difference then revealed whether a flight route was on average delayed, early, or on time.