76% of flights from Minneapolis to Philadelphia arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is about the typical U.S. route. The 10 a.m. departures ran on time 88% of the time; the noon ones 60%. Most reliable airline: Delta Air Lines (79%). 13% 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 MSP → PHL: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 45% of the time. About 1 in 12 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 43 three hours or more; 3.9% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early76%
- 15–30 min late5.4%
- 30–60 min late5.7%
- 1–2 hours late4.9%
- 2–3 hours late1.4%
- 3+ hours late2.3%
- Diverted0.4%
- Cancelled3.9%
Share of all 2,085 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 | 1,237 | 79% | 2.8% | −10 min | 7.2% | +75 min | Delta Air Lines 98%, SkyWest 2% |
| American Airlines | 848 | 72% | 5.5% | −11 min | 10.6% | +115 min | PSA Airlines 73%, American Airlines 17%, Republic Airways 10% |
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 MSP). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 91% | 83% |
| 7 a.m. | 85% | — |
| 10 a.m. | 88% | — |
| 11 a.m. | 80% | — |
| noon | — | 60% |
| 1 p.m. | — | 66% |
| 2 p.m. | 73% | — |
| 8 p.m. | 75% | — |
Last flight of the day
On MSP → PHL, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 4.2% of the time, against 3.8% for its earlier flights, about the same. It arrived 3+ hours late 2.7% of the time (earlier flights: 2.1%). 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 | 4:15 p.m. | 6.4% | 4.4% | 5.0% | first flight 6:00 a.m. |
| Delta Air Lines | 8:25 p.m. | 2.2% | 1.1% | 3.1% | first flight 7:10 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: October (86%). Worst: July (66%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 319 | 72% | 6.0% |
| Tuesday | 303 | 80% | 2.6% |
| Wednesday | 301 | 80% | 3.0% |
| Thursday | 308 | 78% | 1.6% |
| Friday | 309 | 74% | 3.2% |
| Saturday | 237 | 76% | 2.5% |
| Sunday | 308 | 71% | 8.1% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 51 · airline 24 · air traffic/airport 7
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 2688 | 6:55 a.m. | 300 | 87% | 4.0% | −13 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 2679 | 11:00 a.m. | 141 | 82% | 0.7% | −10 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 2594 | 2:25 p.m. | 329 | 71% | 4.6% | −6 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 2703 | 8:25 p.m. | 354 | 75% | 1.7% | −7 min | Delta Air Lines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 15, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 5 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 5 |
| Mar 16, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 2 |
| Jan 26, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 2 |
| Apr 17, 2026 | 7 | 14% | 0 |
Questions
How often are flights from MSP to PHL on time?
76% of 2,085 scheduled flights from Minneapolis, MN to Philadelphia, PA arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 3.9% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly MSP to PHL?
Flights scheduled to leave at 10 a.m. were the most reliable (88% on time). The noon departures were the least (60%).
Which airline is most on time from MSP to PHL?
Delta Air Lines: 79% of its 1,237 flights on the route arrived on time. American Airlines: 72%.
What month has the most delays from MSP to PHL?
July (66% on time). The best month is October (86%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from MSP to PHL more likely to be cancelled?
Not much. Each airline's last MSP–PHL flight of the day was cancelled 4.2% of the time over the past year, against 3.8% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- PHL → MSP (return)
- Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) delays by hour
- Flights into Philadelphia (PHL)
- 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.