Top 10 most & least punctual small airports in the US
Discover the 5 best and worst small airports in the US for punctuality. Learn which airports are ultra-reliable, which have the worst delays, and why it happens.
TL;DR
- Longer delays at smaller US airports are infrequent. The highest number of 30+ minute delays is only 28 (at Jackson Hole Airport), and that was over a 13-month timeframe.
- Five airports share the same (very good) score for punctuality, with zero flights after 5 pm delayed 60 minutes or more.
- The worst small airports for punctuality in the USA are Lincoln Airport in Nebraska and Toledo Airport in Ohio.
- Data is from May 2024 to May 2025 (13 months), exclusively from the US DOT List of Regularly Scheduled Flights with More Than 50% Delayed Arrivals of More Than 30 Minutes.
- Metrics: CDF = rate of flights arriving at the airport more than 30 minutes late. LDA60 = rate of airport operations that depart after 5 pm and are delayed on arrival by 60 minutes or more.
- Almost all of the CDF delays turn into LDA60 delays. That means the majority of small airport delays in our top 10 worst small airports happen after 5 pm and are at least 60 minutes.
Methodology
We used the US Department of Transportation (DOT) List of Regularly Scheduled Flights with More Than 50% Delayed Arrivals of More Than 30 Minutes. From this, we identified the 10 best and worst smaller or regional airports. Our data set included the 70 airports with the fewest flights and is based on data from May 2024 to May 2025.
To come up with our final scores, we used two metrics:
- Chronically Delayed Flights (CDF) – The percentage of the airport’s arrivals where more than 50% were delayed by 30 minutes or more.
- Long-Delay Rate after 5 pm (LDA60) – The rate at which airport flights that leave after 5 pm arrived at their destination 60+ minutes late.
The rate for CDF is based on the total flight operations, and the rate for LDA60 uses total evening flight operations. This gives us a percentage rather than overall volume. The best airports are those with the lowest numbers; the worst airports have the highest ones.
We then weighted the average as follows:
- CDF = 60%
- LDA60 = 40%
Note that the numbers only focus on chronically delayed routes, but not all flight delays. So, if a route was not delayed enough to make it on the DOT’s 50% delayed by 30+ minutes list, it’s not accounted for here.
Key findings
- None of the 10 best small US airports had any flights on the DOT list with a delay of 60 minutes or more after 5 pm.
- Joint best small/regional airports for punctuality include: Santa Barbara (SBA), Morgantown (MGW), Durango-La Plata County (DRO), Green Bay Austin Straubel (GRB), and Northeast Wyoming (GCC).
- Nebraska’s Lincoln Airport and Ohio’s Toledo Airport share the title of the worst small airport in the US, despite having the lowest volume of flight operations.
- CDF = LDA60 at all the airports except one – Jackson Hole Airport. So, most of the delays occur after 5 pm, and if your flight’s delayed by 30 minutes, that will most likely turn into at least an hour.
Ranking table - Worst small US airports for punctuality
| Rank (1 = worst) | Airport | Weighted Total | Total CDF Operations | Flights Delayed 30+ minutes | CDF Rate | CDF Rank (/10, 1 = worst) | Total LDA60 Operations | Flights Delayed 60+ minutes (after 5 pm) | LDA60 Rate | LDA60 Rank (/10, 1 = worst) |
| 1 (tie) | LNK | 1 | 10 | 8 | 0.8000 (80%) | 1 | 10 | 8 | 0.8000 (80%) | 1 |
| 1 (tie) | TOL | 1 | 10 | 8 | 0.8000 (80%) | 1 | 10 | 8 | 0.8000 (80%) | 1 |
| 3 | USA | 3 | 16 | 12 | 0.7500 (75%) | 3 | 16 | 12 | 0.7500 (75%) | 3 |
| 4 | BQN | 4 | 15 | 11 | 0.7333 (73.33%) | 4 | 15 | 11 | 0.7333 (73.33%) | 4 |
| 5 | CRW | 5 | 21 | 15 | 0.7142 (71.42%) | 5 | 21 | 15 | 0.7142 (71.42%) | 5 |
| 6 | HLN | 6.4 | 10 | 7 | 0.7000 (70%) | 6 | 10 | 7 | 0.7000 (70%) | 6 |
| 7 | JAC | 7 | 42 | 28 | 0.6667 (66.67%) | 7 | 10 | 7 | 0.7000 (70%) | 6 |
| 8 | BLV | 7.6 | 12 | 8 | 0.6667 (66.67%) | 7 | 12 | 8 | 0.6667 (66.67%) | 8 |
| 9 | TLH | 9 | 48 | 31 | 0.6458 (64.58%) | 9 | 48 | 31 | 0.6458 (64.58%) | 9 |
| 10 | TVC | 10 | 25 | 16 | 0.6400 (64%) | 10 | 25 | 16 | 0.6400 (64%) | 10 |
5 worst small US airports for long flight delays
The data varies much more with the worst US airports for punctuality than the best. Let’s look at how everything stacks up:
Lincoln Airport (LNK) – Nebraska (Worst)
Before we get into things, let’s remember that in order to be part of the data, the airport first had to make it onto the DOT’s list of 50% CDF or more. So, 50% is the baseline.
Image source: lincolnairport.com
- LNK airport has the same CDF as Toledo Express Airport of 80% (it’s a tie), significantly higher than the baseline.
- Because LDA60 and CDF are the same, evening delays are common.
- If you use LNK often, prepare for shorter delays that turn into at least hour-long ones.
Toledo Express Airport (TOL) – Ohio (Also Worst)
TOL shares the “worst” title with LNK, with the exact same CDF and LDA60.
Image source: airportcod.es
- With 80% of operations delayed after 5 pm, TOL's significant route delays are almost 30% higher than our most punctual US airports.
- Although the delay rates are high, the actual number of disruptions is quite low – 8 in 13 months.
- Plan connections carefully from here by adding an hour to your normal turnaround time to be safe.
Concord-Pagdett Regional Airport (USA) – North Carolina
This is definitely a small airport, with only two airlines currently using it – Allegiant and Avelo.
Image source: concordairportnc.com
- At Concord-Padget Airport, the sheer number of delays is higher (12), but the rate is lower (75%).
- Like TOL and LNK, the LDA60 and CDF are the same at USA, so routes are most often delayed after 5 pm.
- To minimize delays here, aim to book flights that depart early in the day, and at the very least, leave before 5 pm.
Rafael Hernández International Airport (BQN) – Puerto Rico
Not to be confused with Puerto Rico’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU), BQN doesn’t have anywhere near the volume, making it a much smaller hub.
Image source: wikipedia.org
- While this international airport has a lower CDF and LDA60 rate than our top three, it actually experiences more long delays than TOL and LNK.
- 60+ minute delays are as common as half-hour ones.
- Consider a switch to the larger airport on the island, SJU. The delay rate is lower to minimize any disruptions, and it has more options for replacement flights.
West Virginia International Yeager Airport (CRW) – West Virginia
Serving the area around Charleston, WV, CRW flies to domestic destinations like Charlotte (in North Carolina this time), Chicago, and Atlanta.
Image source: wvtourism.com
- CRW has the highest raw number of delayed routes (15) in the top five, but the CDF and LDA60 rates are both 71.42%.
- With so few daily flights, often as few as two arrivals and two departures, the average breaks down to at least one per month (15 in a 13-month period).
- Often, there won’t be a replacement flight at this airport if you’re significantly delayed, so be prepared to wait overnight.
Ranking table – Best small airports for on-time flights
| Rank (1 = best) | Airport | Weighted Total | Total CDF Operations | Flights Delayed 30+ minutes | CDF Rate | CDF Rank (/10, 1 = best) | Total LDA60 Operations | Flights Delayed 60+ minutes (after 5 pm) | LDA60 Rate | LDA60 Rank (/10, 1 = best) |
| 1 | SBA | 1 | 31 | 16 | 0,5161 (51.61%) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 1 |
| 1 | MGW | 1 | 31 | 16 | 0,5161 (51.61%) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 1 |
| 1 | DRO | 1 | 31 | 16 | 0,5161 (51.61%) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 1 |
| 1 | GRB | 1 | 31 | 16 | 0,5161 (51.61%) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 1 |
| 1 | GCC | 1 | 31 | 16 | 0,5161 (51.61%) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 1 |
| 6 | RST | 4 | 22 | 12 | 0,5455 (54.55%) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 1 |
| 6 | VCT | 4 | 22 | 12 | 0,5455 (54.55%) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 1 |
| 6 | FAY | 4 | 11 | 6 | 0,5455 (54.55%) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 1 |
| 10 | GEG | 6.4 | 31 | 17 | 0,5484 (54.84%) | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 1 |
| 10 | EUG | 6.4 | 31 | 17 | 0,5484 (54.84%) | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 1 |
5 best small US airports for on-time flights
Since all the best small US airports for punctuality have zero instances of routes with delays after 5 pm of 60+ minutes, the ranking is essentially based only on CDF. It’s a five-way tie (CDF = 51.61%, LDA60 = 0%):
- Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) – California
- Morgantown Municipal Airport (MGW) – West Virginia
- Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO) – Colorado
- Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB) – Wisconsin
- Northeast Wyoming Regional Airport (GCC) – Wyoming
These airports’ chronically delayed routes did not have even a single issue with flights delayed by 60 minutes or more when they departed after 5 pm. That’s the opposite of our worst small US airports for punctuality.
With these airports, you don’t have to worry as much about flight delays disrupting your plans, because most delays hover between 30 minutes and an hour. Consider bringing activities to pass the delay time and make sure connections have at least a two-hour window to be safe.
How these rankings can help with your next flight booking
Using these flight delays at small airports as a guide, at the very least, you may be more prepared for a potential delay. To mitigate your chances of a lengthy flight interruption:
- Book flights early in the day, especially before 5 pm.
- Look for alternate airports to those on our top 10 worst small US airports list. For example, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is less than an hour from Toledo. On the other hand, Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT) is very close to Concord Airport, but CLT is the worst major US airport on our list, so be careful.
- Add as much flexibility to your itinerary as you can. Aim for generous connection times so that you don’t feel rushed, and book any subsequent activities or work engagements with a good amount of buffer time. Otherwise, the disruption can have a cascading effect.
Data use rights
AirAdvisor publishes AirData insights based on aggregated flight performance data analyzed for consumer information purposes. Journalists, researchers, and industry professionals are welcome to reference these findings with attribution. Please cite the source as: “Data source: AirAdvisor AirData” and include a link to the original page where the data appears. The full dataset is available upon request.
For media inquiries, data clarifications, or reuse permissions beyond citation, please contact press@airadvisor.com.
FAQs
What qualifies as a “small airport” in the US?
For the purposes of this study on the worst small US airports for delays, we used the 70 airports in the country with the lowest volumes of flight operations. Generally, these are small or regional airports, and some operate both civilian and military flights.
Are early-morning flights more reliable at small airports?
Generally, yes. The chance of cascading delays due to disruptions earlier in the day is reduced. Additionally, when an early flight is canceled or delayed, passengers have a better chance of finding another option at the small airport or one nearby to avoid staying at the airport overnight.
What can travelers do to minimize delays when flying from small airports?
Since passengers can’t control the weather or operations, the options are limited. Do your part by arriving with plenty of time to get through security and to the gate. And wherever possible, don’t choose a small airport from our top 10 worst for delays.
Author:
Amy Lancelotte
Job/Position: Senior Writer & Content Creator
Amy Lancelotte is a Senior Content Writer and editorial contributor at AirAdvisor with more than seven years of experience producing research-driven articles for global audiences. Her work focuses on travel, aviation, and air passenger rights, with an emphasis on factual accuracy, verified data, and clear, reader-first explanations.
