American vs Spirit: On-Time Performance Compared

Last 12 months · Aug 2025 – Jul 2026

Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026

Spirit Airlines has not reported flights to BTS since May 2026. Figures cover its flights up to then.

Over the last 12 months 74.6% of American flights arrived on time, compared with 72.8% for Spirit.

American cancelled fewer flights (2.2% vs 3.9%), and late flights averaged 85 minutes late on American vs 74 on Spirit.

On the 91 routes both airlines fly regularly, American had the better on-time record on 50 and Spirit on 41.

American vs Spirit: key numbers

Last 12 months, all flights each airline operated.

AmericanSpirit

On-time arrivals74.6%72.8%

On-time departures73.6%72.5%

Cancelled2.2%3.9%

Diverted0.4%0.2%

On-time arrival % each month, last 24 months.

AmericanSpirit

50%60%70%80%90%

Aug ’24Nov ’24Feb ’25May ’25Aug ’25Nov ’25Feb ’26May ’26

Share of each airline’s reported delay minutes by cause, last 12 months.

AmericanSpirit

Airline (carrier)33.7%30.6%

Weather5.6%2.0%

Air traffic system (NAS)13.6%37.0%

Security0.1%0.3%

Late-arriving aircraft46.9%30.1%

91 routes where each airline had at least 100 completed flights in the last 12 months; the 25 busiest are shown. Better on-time rate in bold.

Route	American on time	Spirit on time	American flights	Spirit flights
DFW → LAX	69.2%	80.1%	4,576	441
LAX → DFW	72.7%	73.2%	4,568	439
DFW → MIA	67.6%	80.7%	4,303	249
MIA → DFW	74.3%	60.7%	4,303	248
DFW → LGA	63.7%	64.5%	4,300	211
LGA → DFW	71.5%	68.0%	4,297	210
DFW → ORD	66.1%	75.2%	4,245	107
LAS → DFW	80.5%	82.2%	3,987	311
DFW → LAS	66.8%	79.5%	3,984	307
DFW → MCO	60.7%	70.0%	3,670	453
MCO → DFW	73.2%	69.5%	3,669	452
CLT → MCO	71.2%	70.3%	3,678	428
MCO → CLT	79.0%	72.2%	3,678	427
MIA → LGA	66.0%	58.2%	3,560	391
LGA → MIA	71.2%	63.7%	3,560	387
MIA → CLT	78.3%	78.7%	3,247	244
CLT → MIA	77.6%	71.9%	3,243	245
ORD → MIA	75.6%	59.6%	3,017	318
MIA → ORD	72.3%	63.0%	3,017	317
ORD → LGA	65.0%	51.3%	2,962	299
LGA → ORD	68.8%	64.5%	2,961	299
LAX → ORD	72.8%	78.3%	3,061	189
ORD → LAX	68.8%	73.0%	3,062	186
PHL → MCO	74.0%	74.4%	2,601	520
MCO → PHL	75.7%	63.7%	2,601	516