Flying for the Holidays? Here's Which US Airlines Are Most Likely to Arrive on Time

One airline has topped the on-time charts for five years running, while another canceled more flights than any of its rivals. Here’s how the major carriers compare, and the time of day that gives you the best shot at landing on schedule.

The holidays are just around the corner, and if you’re planning a trip during the busy season, here’s a look at which U.S. airlines are most likely to get you there on time.

According to a rece​​nt analysis by Global Work & Travel, a company that connects people with travel experiences abroad, your best bet is Delta Air Lines, which came out on top. The ranking is based on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s latest Air Travel Consumer Report, covering domestic flights in August. The company ranked airlines by how often they arrived within 15 minutes of schedule.

Here’s a quick look at how the airlines fared, from the most to the least punctual:

1. Delta Air Lines: 77% on-time arrivals
2. Allegiant Air: 73.2%
3. Alaska Airlines: 72.3%
4. United Airlines: 71.7%
5. American Airlines: 70.6%
6. Southwest Airlines: 69.1%
7. Frontier Airlines: 64.4%
8. JetBlue Airways: 59.7%

Among these airlines, JetBlue also recorded the highest cancellation rate, at 6.2%, followed by Frontier at 3%. Allegiant and Southwest had the fewest cancellations, at 0.4% and 0.8%, respectively.

This isn’t the first time Delta earned the title of most punctual airline. It was also named the most on-time airline in North America for 2025 by aviation analytics company Cirium. According to last year’s report, 80.9% of more than 1.8 million Delta flights in 2025 arrived on time.

It was the fifth year in a row that the airline achieved top status in punctuality. Cirium noted that 2025 was an especially challenging year, with repeated air traffic control problems and the 43-day government shutdown. It called Delta a model of resilience during that challenging year.

The time you fly also matters. According to Global Work & Travel’s analysis of the 30 largest U.S. airports, flights departing between 6 and 6:59 a.m. were on time 89.7% of the time. Flights between 8 and 8:59 p.m., on the other hand, were on time just 52.8% of the time.

If you’re considering taking an early flight like 6 a.m. to avoid a possible delay, Jurgen Himmelmann, co-founder and CEO of Global Work & Travel, recommends you “check the first train or bus and price up any taxi or overnight stay you would need” first, adding, “An early departure should work for your whole journey and your budget.”

He also recommends weighing what a delay would cost for your travel plans. “If you are traveling for Thanksgiving dinner, a wedding or a cruise departure, arriving late could affect much more than your airport transfer,” he said.

And if your arrival date is critical, Himmelmann suggests traveling the day before to leave room for unexpected delays.