Delta 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.

Delta was more punctual than Spirit over the last 12 months: 81.5% of its flights arrived on time, against 72.8%.

Delta cancelled fewer flights (1.7% vs 3.9%), and late flights averaged 71 minutes late on Delta vs 74 on Spirit.

On the 96 routes both airlines fly regularly, Delta had the better on-time record on 71 and Spirit on 25.

Delta vs Spirit: key numbers

Last 12 months, all flights each airline operated.

DeltaSpirit

On-time arrivals81.5%72.8%

On-time departures81.9%72.5%

Cancelled1.7%3.9%

Diverted0.3%0.2%

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

DeltaSpirit

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.

DeltaSpirit

Airline (carrier)44.7%30.6%

Weather4.1%2.0%

Air traffic system (NAS)21.6%37.0%

Security0.1%0.3%

Late-arriving aircraft29.5%30.1%

96 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	Delta on time	Spirit on time	Delta flights	Spirit flights
ATL → MCO	70.8%	73.0%	5,480	410
MCO → ATL	78.8%	63.3%	5,478	410
ATL → FLL	74.0%	65.5%	4,315	1,216
FLL → ATL	78.9%	59.7%	4,311	1,217
ATL → TPA	75.2%	75.7%	4,401	104
TPA → ATL	81.7%	88.5%	4,401	104
DTW → ATL	81.3%	75.0%	3,742	592
ATL → DTW	78.6%	78.3%	3,737	588
ATL → LAX	79.3%	82.1%	3,844	213
LAX → ATL	81.1%	86.7%	3,840	212
MIA → ATL	77.1%	74.7%	3,308	252
ATL → MIA	71.1%	73.9%	3,306	252
ATL → LAS	77.6%	80.0%	3,322	156
LAS → ATL	86.5%	86.3%	3,322	154
EWR → ATL	80.0%	71.0%	3,045	394
ATL → EWR	71.6%	65.8%	3,045	389
MSY → ATL	86.8%	67.2%	3,280	140
ATL → MSY	83.1%	79.1%	3,278	137
ATL → MSP	81.2%	82.2%	3,225	101
MSP → ATL	83.7%	84.2%	3,204	101
DTW → MCO	75.0%	77.7%	2,192	873
ATL → DFW	75.7%	77.2%	2,790	269
DFW → ATL	82.6%	72.6%	2,791	267
MCO → DTW	74.6%	68.5%	2,192	866
ATL → BWI	78.7%	81.7%	2,811	107