An extensive analysis conducted by flight monitoring service Flighty has provided insights into punctuality trends for air travel during 2025. The research examined data from 22 million individual flights, representing more than 78 million hours of flying time. For classification purposes, any flight reaching its destination at least 15 minutes past the scheduled arrival was considered delayed.
Performance of U.S. Airlines
Among domestic carriers in the United States, Frontier Airlines recorded the poorest on-time performance, with approximately 28% of its flights arriving behind schedule. JetBlue and Southwest Airlines shared the second position, each experiencing delays on about one-quarter of their operations.
American Airlines and Alaska Airlines jointly occupied the third spot in the national rankings. American saw around 24% of flights delayed, while Alaska's rate was slightly lower at 23%. Due to these statistical ties, a total of five airlines comprised the top three categories.
International Comparison
While U.S. carriers showed concerning delay patterns, several international airlines demonstrated even higher rates. Ryanair, easyJet, and Air France all reported that 29% of their flights arrived late in 2025, exceeding the worst performance among American-based carriers.
This indicates that flight delays represent a widespread challenge affecting the global aviation industry. Factors such as congested airports, substantial passenger volumes, and tightly packed schedules contribute to delays across different regions. International travelers should consider allowing additional time, similar to precautions taken for domestic journeys.
Consequences for Passengers
The investigation quantified the substantial time burden placed on travelers worldwide. The typical delay extended to 23 minutes, accumulating to approximately 3.9 million hours lost collectively due to late arrivals.
Pre-departure holds added further inconvenience, with passengers spending about 1.4 million hours waiting for flights to take off. This duration equates to nearly 164 years of accumulated waiting time at airport facilities.
Primary Causes of Delays
Most disruptions stemmed from operational difficulties, including gate unavailability, taxiway congestion, runway backups, and aircraft holding patterns. Additional contributing factors involved crew scheduling problems, mechanical issues, and adverse weather conditions.
Within the United States, security procedures and staffing shortages intensified delays during peak travel seasons. A government shutdown occurring in autumn led to extended Transportation Security Administration wait times, creating cascading effects that disrupted flight schedules throughout entire days.
Airport Contributions to Travel Difficulties
Airline operational issues were not the sole source of traveler frustration. A distinct evaluation recently identified Newark Liberty International Airport as the world's most stressful aviation facility, considering metrics like delays, cancellations, security processing times, and baggage delivery efficiency.
Newark's average departure delay surpassed 21 minutes, accompanied by a cancellation rate exceeding 1%. Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport and Manchester Airport followed closely in the rankings. In the U.S., John F. Kennedy International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport also scored high on stress-related measures.
Practical Takeaways for Travelers
Delay statistics should not necessarily deter passengers from specific airlines entirely. Rather, this information helps establish realistic expectations and informs travel planning strategies. Selecting early morning flights, avoiding minimal connection times, and incorporating buffer periods can contribute to smoother journeys.
As air travel demand persists in growing, delays will likely remain an inherent aspect of flying. Awareness of which airlines and airports experience the greatest operational challenges enables better preparation. With appropriate planning, travel days can become significantly more manageable experiences.
