The top performers
Based on 44 million flights (2019-2025), the most punctual US airlines are consistently the regional carriers — Endeavor Air, Horizon Air, and Hawaiian Airlines — with on-time rates above 83%.
Among mainline carriers, Delta Air Lines leads at ~84% on-time, followed by Alaska Airlines at ~80%. At the bottom: JetBlue (~72%), Frontier (~72%), and Spirit (~77%).
Why regionals outperform
Regional airlines fly shorter routes with less exposure to cascading delays. Their aircraft make fewer flights per day, reducing the compound effect. They also tend to operate from smaller airports with less congestion.