Flight delays and cancellations didn’t disappear after the pandemic rebound—they just changed shape.
In the U.S., airlines canceled 1.4% of flights in 2024 (slightly worse than 2023) while posting an on-time arrival rate of 78.1% for the year.
In Europe, 2024 finished with an average delay of 17.5 minutes per flight and 72.4% of arrivals within 15 minutes of schedule—a small improvement on 2023 despite a rough summer.
What are the headline numbers travelers should know?
- U.S. 2024 cancellation rate: 1.4% (vs. 1.3% in 2023). U.S. 2024 on-time arrival: 78.1%.
- Worst month (recent U.S. snapshot): July 2024 cancellations hit 2.9%; year-to-date at that point was 1.7%.
- Latest monthly snapshot (U.S., May 2025): overall on-time arrivals ~75%; cancellations ~1.1% for reporting carriers.
- Europe 2024: 17.5 minutes average delay per flight; 72.4% arrivals within 15 minutes. Reactionary (“knock-on”) delay was 46% of all delay minutes.
- Most on-time global airline (2024): Aeromexico with 86.70% on-time performance.
How did the U.S. actually perform?
Big picture: Airlines canceled 1.4% of flights, and 78.1% of arrivals were on time. That’s a modest step back from 2023, but still better than the worst pandemic-era years.
The DOT’s Air Travel Consumer Report is the gold-standard source for this, and it uses the common rule: a flight is on time if it’s within 15 minutes of schedule.
U.S. 2024 Summary (full year)
| Metric | 2024 |
|---|---|
| On-time arrival rate | 78.1% |
| Cancellation rate | 1.4% |
| Tarmac delays >3 hrs (domestic) | 437 |
| Tarmac delays >4 hrs (international) | 61 |
Source: U.S. DOT/BTS Air Travel Consumer Report (full-year 2024). (bts.gov)
When are cancellations and delays the worst?
Summer peaks are real. In July 2024, U.S. carriers canceled 2.9% of scheduled domestic flights—more than double the full-year average—thanks to storms, congestion, and tight schedules.
By May 2025, the monthly snapshot had cancellations back near ~1.1%, with on-time performance around 75%.
Recent U.S. Monthly Snapshots
| Month | On-Time Arrivals | Cancellation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 2024 | (rate varies by carrier) | 2.9% |
| May 2025 | ~75% (all reporting carriers) | ~1.1% |
Sources: DOT July 2024 and July 2025 ATCRs. (transportation.gov)
Why do flights run late? (and what the categories mean)
The DOT groups delays into a few buckets: Air Carrier (within an airline’s control), National Airspace System (NAS) issues (like ATC or volume), Extreme Weather, Security, and Late Arriving Aircraft (knock-on effects). For a live example, take May 2025:
American Airlines network (May 2025): about 6.38% of operations incurred Air Carrier Delay, 7.31% saw NAS delay, 1.70% had Extreme Weather delay, 0.04% had Security delay, and 9.62% were affected by Late Arriving Aircraft. (Note: these are shares of scheduled operations that month.)
That “late arriving aircraft” share shows how one delay cascades into the next. Europe tracks a similar concept as “reactionary delay”, which made up 46% of all delay minutes in 2024.
How does Europe compare?
Europe’s network runs hot in summer. For 2024, the average delay was 17.5 minutes per flight, with 72.4% of arrivals within 15 minutes of schedule.
The biggest chunk of delay was reactionary (knock-on) at 46% of minutes. En-route ATFM (air traffic flow management) delays rose to 2.3 minutes per flight in 2024 and spiked to 5.7 minutes per flight in July.
The European air traffic network is saturated and we need to make best use of the capacity currently available.
Europe 2024 Summary
| Metric | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Avg. delay per flight (all causes) | 17.5 min |
| Arrivals within 15 min | 72.4% |
| Reactionary delay share | 46% of delay minutes |
| En-route ATFM delay | 2.3 min/flight (5.7 in July) |
Source: EUROCONTROL CODA Annual 2024. (eurocontrol.int)
Which airlines are actually on time?
By one of the most-watched global scorecards (Cirium), Aeromexico was 2024’s most on-time “Global Airline” at 86.70% OTP, with Saudia and Delta Air Lines close behind. While ranking methods differ across analytics firms, the theme is the same: operational discipline pays off.
Supply chain issues are frustrating every airline with a triple whammy on revenues, costs and environmental performance.
How bad did tarmac delays get?
U.S. carriers reported 437 domestic tarmac delays over 3 hours and 61 international tarmac delays over 4 hours in 2024. Carriers must offer passengers a chance to deplane by those limits, with some safety and ATC exceptions.
What can travelers do to dodge the worst of it?
- Book morning flights. Early departures are less exposed to the day’s knock-on delays.
- Choose hubs and carriers with strong OTP. Historic performance matters—so do aircraft/crew resources.
- Avoid tight connections. Build a cushion, especially in summer and during storm seasons.
- Know your rights. DOT rules cover tarmac delays, refunds after cancellations, and more.
FAQ: Delays & Cancellations
What’s the U.S. cancellation rate right now?
Full-year 2024 was 1.4%. Monthly rates swing—July 2024 hit 2.9%, while May 2025 was around 1.1%.
What counts as “on time”?
In official DOT reporting, within 15 minutes of scheduled arrival.
What causes most delays?
In Europe 2024, reactionary (knock-on) delays were 46% of delay minutes. In U.S. monthly data, big drivers include NAS (airspace/ATC), air carrier, weather, and late arriving aircraft.
Which airline was most on time in 2024, globally?
Aeromexico at 86.70% OTP (Cirium’s ranking).
How rough was Europe’s 2024?
17.5 minutes average delay per flight; 72.4% of arrivals within 15 minutes. Summer (especially July) was the pinch point.
Sources
- U.S. DOT / BTS — Air Travel Consumer Report: December 2024 (Full-Year 2024 Numbers)
- U.S. DOT — July 2025 Air Travel Consumer Report (PDF)
- U.S. DOT — Air Travel Consumer Report: July 2024 Numbers
- EUROCONTROL — All-Causes Delays to Air Transport in Europe: Annual 2024 (CODA Digest)
- EUROCONTROL (PDF) — CODA Annual 2024: Detailed Report
- Cirium — Most On-Time Airlines and Airports of 2024
- U.S. DOT — Fly Rights (Passenger Rights & Tarmac Rules)
0 Comment