65% of flights from New York to Columbia arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 2 p.m. departures ran on time 70% of the time; the 8 p.m. ones 41%. Most reliable airline: American Airlines (69%). 20% 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 LGA → CAE: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 41% of the time. About 1 in 7 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 52 three hours or more; 6.8% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early65%
- 15–30 min late6.7%
- 30–60 min late8.4%
- 1–2 hours late8.3%
- 2–3 hours late3.2%
- 3+ hours late1.9%
- Diverted0.1%
- Cancelled6.8%
Share of all 1,305 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 | 665 | 61% | 7.2% | −6 min | 15.0% | +81 min | Endeavor Air |
| American Airlines | 640 | 69% | 6.4% | −11 min | 11.7% | +72 min | Republic Airways |
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 LGA). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Delta Air Lines | American Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| 1 p.m. | 64% | — |
| 2 p.m. | — | 73% |
| 6 p.m. | — | 62% |
| 7 p.m. | 62% | — |
Last flight of the day
On LGA → CAE, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 10.6% of the time, against 3.9% for its earlier flights (2.7× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 2.2% of the time (earlier flights: 1.9%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 9:00 p.m. | 9.9% | 2.1% | 3.2% | first flight 12:29 p.m. |
| Delta Air Lines | 8:59 p.m. | 11.3% | 2.3% | 4.7% | first flight 1:15 p.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.
If you need to be in CAE tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: September (83%). Worst: July (54%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 207 | 60% | 10.6% |
| Tuesday | 201 | 69% | 6.5% |
| Wednesday | 202 | 66% | 4.0% |
| Thursday | 201 | 64% | 6.5% |
| Friday | 191 | 69% | 3.1% |
| Saturday | 100 | 70% | 2.0% |
| Sunday | 203 | 57% | 12.3% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: air traffic/airport 44 · weather 28 · airline 17
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL 5089 | 1:15 p.m. | 364 | 64% | 3.9% | −7 min | Endeavor Air |
| AA 4506 | 2:40 p.m. | 231 | 71% | 3.9% | −8 min | Republic Airways |
| DL 5057 | 6:00 p.m. | 301 | 56% | 11.3% | −4 min | Endeavor Air |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 13, 2025 | 4 | 0% | 1 |
| Feb 23, 2026 | 4 | 0% | 4 |
| Nov 9, 2025 | 4 | 0% | 2 |
| Nov 10, 2025 | 4 | 0% | 1 |
| Jul 22, 2026 | 4 | 0% | 0 |
Questions
How often are flights from LGA to CAE on time?
65% of 1,305 scheduled flights from New York, NY to Columbia, SC arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 6.8% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly LGA to CAE?
Flights scheduled to leave at 2 p.m. were the most reliable (70% on time). The 8 p.m. departures were the least (41%).
Which airline is most on time from LGA to CAE?
American Airlines: 69% of its 640 flights on the route arrived on time. Delta Air Lines: 61%.
What month has the most delays from LGA to CAE?
July (54% on time). The best month is September (83%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from LGA to CAE more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last LGA–CAE flight of the day was cancelled 10.6% of the time over the past year, against 3.9% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- CAE → LGA (return)
- LaGuardia (LGA) delays by hour
- Flights into Columbia Metropolitan (CAE)
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- American Airlines 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.