71% of flights from New York to Buffalo arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 7 a.m. departures ran on time 88% of the time; the 5 p.m. ones 61%. Most reliable airline: Delta Air Lines (73%). 17% of flights arrived more than an hour late or not at all.
How late?
The on-time rate treats a flight 20 minutes late the same as one 5 hours late. Here's the split for JFK → BUF: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 42% of the time. About 1 in 10 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 61 three hours or more; 6.9% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early71%
- 15–30 min late6.1%
- 30–60 min late6.0%
- 1–2 hours late6.4%
- 2–3 hours late2.2%
- 3+ hours late1.6%
- Diverted0.2%
- Cancelled6.9%
Share of all 2,637 scheduled flights, past 12 months, by arrival time against schedule.
By airline
| Airline | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | 1h+ late | Avg when late | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 1,411 | 73% | 7.2% | −13 min | 7.4% | +78 min | Endeavor Air |
| JetBlue | 1,226 | 67% | 6.5% | −6 min | 13.5% | +84 min | JetBlue |
Airline = the name on the ticket. Regional flights (e.g. "Delta Connection") count under the ticketing airline, and the operator is listed.
Best time of day to fly
On-time rate by scheduled departure hour (local time at JFK). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Delta Air Lines | JetBlue |
|---|---|---|
| 7 a.m. | — | 88% |
| 8 a.m. | 82% | — |
| 9 a.m. | 85% | — |
| 1 p.m. | 75% | 65% |
| 5 p.m. | 63% | 58% |
| 10 p.m. | 73% | 52% |
Last flight of the day
On JFK → BUF, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 7.9% of the time, against 6.6% for its earlier flights, about the same. It arrived 3+ hours late 2.2% of the time (earlier flights: 1.5%). It matters more than the numbers suggest. Miss an earlier flight and there's another one that evening; miss the last one and you're usually waiting until morning.
| Airline | Last departure | Last: cancelled | Last: 3h+ late | Earlier: cancelled | Next morning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JetBlue | 10:29 p.m. | 5.2% | 3.0% | 7.1% | first flight 6:30 a.m. |
| Delta Air Lines | 10:40 p.m. | 10.6% | 1.4% | 6.1% | first flight 8:00 a.m. |
Last flight = the airline's last scheduled departure on this route that day, on days it flies the route at least twice; past 12 months. Times are typical scheduled times over the latest three months.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: April (81%). Worst: July (57%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 390 | 67% | 10.3% |
| Tuesday | 375 | 73% | 8.3% |
| Wednesday | 373 | 76% | 2.9% |
| Thursday | 376 | 70% | 5.9% |
| Friday | 375 | 75% | 4.5% |
| Saturday | 369 | 71% | 6.5% |
| Sunday | 379 | 62% | 9.8% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: air traffic/airport 83 · weather 53 · airline 46
Month by month
Flight numbers on this route
Regular flights with at least 120 scheduled trips in the past year. Sorted by departure time.
| Flight | Departs | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B6 1602 | 7:30 a.m. | 321 | 83% | 5.6% | −12 min | JetBlue |
| DL 5223 | 8:00 a.m. | 339 | 84% | 3.2% | −14 min | Endeavor Air |
| B6 2902 | 1:29 p.m. | 268 | 71% | 7.8% | −6 min | JetBlue |
| DL 5296 | 1:29 p.m. | 312 | 76% | 4.5% | −14 min | Endeavor Air |
| B6 1202 | 5:30 p.m. | 304 | 56% | 7.6% | +3 min | JetBlue |
| DL 5250 | 5:30 p.m. | 348 | 63% | 10.6% | −6 min | Endeavor Air |
| B6 102 | 10:29 p.m. | 281 | 57% | 6.0% | +2 min | JetBlue |
| DL 5264 | 10:30 p.m. | 348 | 74% | 10.3% | −14 min | Endeavor Air |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 3, 2026 | 8 | 0% | 3 |
| Feb 23, 2026 | 8 | 0% | 8 |
| Jul 21, 2026 | 8 | 0% | 6 |
| Dec 14, 2025 | 8 | 0% | 6 |
| Jul 6, 2026 | 8 | 0% | 4 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of New York or Buffalo. EWR → ROC has been 7 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| JFK → BUF (this route) | 2,637 | 71% | 6.9% |
| EWR → ROC Newark to Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester | 1,023 | 78% | 6.2% |
| EWR → BUF Newark to Buffalo Niagara | 1,065 | 72% | 5.6% |
| LGA → BUF LaGuardia to Buffalo Niagara | 2,317 | 70% | 6.7% |
| JFK → ROC New York JFK to Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester | 1,677 | 69% | 5.9% |
| LGA → ROC LaGuardia to Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester | 974 | 65% | 7.2% |
Questions
How often are flights from JFK to BUF on time?
71% of 2,637 scheduled flights from New York, NY to Buffalo, NY arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 6.9% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly JFK to BUF?
Flights scheduled to leave at 7 a.m. were the most reliable (88% on time). The 5 p.m. departures were the least (61%).
Which airline is most on time from JFK to BUF?
Delta Air Lines: 73% of its 1,411 flights on the route arrived on time. JetBlue: 67%.
What month has the most delays from JFK to BUF?
July (57% on time). The best month is April (81%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from JFK to BUF more likely to be cancelled?
Not much. Each airline's last JFK–BUF flight of the day was cancelled 7.9% of the time over the past year, against 6.6% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- BUF → JFK (return)
- New York JFK (JFK) delays by hour
- Flights into Buffalo Niagara (BUF)
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- JetBlue on-time record
- Connecting off this flight? Check the risk
Domestic flights by the airlines that report to the U.S. DOT, plus their regional partners. "On time" means arriving less than 15 minutes after schedule; cancelled and diverted flights count as not on time. Past performance is a guide, not a forecast. Method.