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U.S. Airlines with Highest and Lowest Numbers of Delays

U.S. Airlines with Highest and Lowest Numbers of Delays

UNITED STATES- Based on aviation data provided by Cirium, the following U.S. airlines are ranked according to the highest and lowest rates of delays, as determined by the percentage of on-time arrivals in July 2023.

Air travel can induce stress on its own, but encountering a flight delay or a sudden cancellation can intensify the frustration. This scenario becomes even more aggravating when you have a connecting flight to catch or need to reach your destination promptly for a significant occasion.

Certain airports are more notorious for delays than others, making the wait during a delay an unpleasant experience, particularly when unexpected hours need to be spent before your flight takes off behind schedule.

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U.S. airlines are ranked according to the highest and lowest rates of delays, as determined by percentage of on-time arrivals in July 2023.
Photo: By Tomás Del Coro from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA – N229FR Frontier Airlines Airbus A320-214 s/n 5581 “Peachy The Fox”, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62266599

U.S. Airlines with Highest Delays

The three airlines listed below are experiencing the highest number of delayed flights.

While delays can be inevitable at times, there are several strategies you can employ to minimize the chances of encountering delayed or canceled flights by adopting smart travel planning techniques.

U.S. airlines are ranked according to the highest and lowest rates of delays, as determined by percentage of on-time arrivals in July 2023.
Photo: Airbus

1) JetBlue Airways (B6)

JetBlue currently holds the unfortunate position of leading the charts for the highest number of delayed flights.

In July, only 53.01% of JetBlue flights managed to arrive on schedule, leaving nearly half of them facing delays.

Although a significant portion of these delays were due to adverse weather conditions, the New York-based airline, JetBlue, has also pointed fingers at the Federal Aviation Administration for contributing to delays.

This is due to the persistent shortage of air traffic controllers, particularly in New York City.

Irrespective of the blame game, JetBlue has experienced a tumultuous summer marked by a notable frequency of delays.

Photo: By Tomás Del Coro from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA – N220FR Frontier Airlines 2013 Airbus A320-214 cn/5661, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58273398

2) Frontier Airlines (F9)

Moving on to Frontier Airlines, their on-time arrival rate for all flights in the last month was a mere 57.23%.

This budget-friendly airline has faced criticism from numerous passengers due to its cost-cutting practices, such as the removal of phone-based customer support.

This means that if travelers encounter problems like flight delays or cancellations, they are unable to reach a live person for assistance.

Spirit Airlines Takes the Delivery of First Airbus A321neo | Exclusive
Photo: Spirit Airlines

3) Spirit Airlines

Lastly, Spirit Airlines, another low-cost carrier, doesn’t have the most impressive performance in terms of on-time arrivals.

Presently, their on-time arrival rate stands at only 63.7%, indicating that more than a third of their flights experience delays.

While the allure of a $17 fare might be tempting, it’s important to be aware that there’s a possibility your flight might not reach its destination on schedule.

U.S. airlines are ranked according to the highest and lowest rates of delays, as determined by percentage of on-time arrivals in July 2023.
Photo: By Oliver Holzbauer – N171DZ Delta Air Lines Boeing 767-332(ER)(WL) coming in from New York (KJFK) @
Frankfurt (EDDF) / 08.04.2015, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40669627

Lowest Number of Delays

In contrast to the airlines mentioned earlier, with the highest number of delays last month, the following airlines have the least delays and the highest percentage of on-time arrivals.

U.S. airlines are ranked according to the highest and lowest rates of delays, as determined by percentage of on-time arrivals in July 2023.
Photo: By Boeing / Addison Salzman – https://doi.org/10.57700/1f7s-tn05, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=125847136

1) Alaska Airlines (AS)

Alaska Airlines is setting the standard for on-time flights among U.S. airlines, boasting an impressive 82.03% arrival rate for the previous month.

When choosing to travel with Alaska Airlines, known for its excellent customer service and passenger satisfaction, you’ll likely experience a smooth and punctual journey without the hassle of delays.

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines (DL) flight from Milan (MXP) to New York (JFK) diverted to Rome (FCO) due to a general emergency.
Photo: By Lasse Fuss – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19825411

2) Delta Air Lines (DL)

Delta Air Lines, which was recently awarded the title of the top airline in North America, maintains its reputation for excellence with a commendable rate of on-time flights.

This achievement, combined with factors such as exceptional customer service and a comfortable onboard experience, contributes to Delta’s well-deserved recognition.

Approximately 78.55% of Delta’s flights are adhering to their scheduled arrival times, based on flight data from July 2023.

Photo: By BriYYZ from Toronto, Canada – American Airlines Boeing 737-800 N930NN, CC BY-SA 2.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36856908

3) American Airlines (AA)

Finally, American Airlines completes the trio of airlines that excel in maintaining on-time flights.

In July, approximately 73.01% of American Airlines flights managed to reach their intended destinations without any delays, marking a positive achievement.

Yet, it’s important to note that more than a quarter of flights experienced delays, indicating that American Airlines falls short of being the most dependable airline to choose.

Nevertheless, this performance remains significantly better than that of some of its rivals.

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