73% of flights from Knoxville to New York arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 6 a.m. departures ran on time 86% of the time; the 5 p.m. ones 58%. 18% 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 TYS → LGA: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 35% of the time. About 1 in 9 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 52 three hours or more; 6.3% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early73%
- 15–30 min late4.2%
- 30–60 min late5.2%
- 1–2 hours late6.6%
- 2–3 hours late2.6%
- 3+ hours late1.9%
- Diverted0.6%
- Cancelled6.3%
Share of all 1,042 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 | 976 | 73% | 6.7% | −11 min | 10.9% | +92 min | Endeavor Air |
| American Airlines | 66 | — | — | — | — | — | 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 TYS). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Delta Air Lines |
|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 86% |
| 11 a.m. | 73% |
| 5 p.m. | 58% |
Last flight of the day
On TYS → LGA, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 9.0% of the time, against 5.7% for its earlier flights (1.6× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 2.8% of the time (earlier flights: 1.8%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 5:35 p.m. | 9.1% | 2.8% | 5.7% | first flight 6:00 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.
If you need to be in LGA tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: November (88%). Worst: July (68%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 168 | 67% | 11.9% |
| Tuesday | 165 | 67% | 7.9% |
| Wednesday | 161 | 78% | 3.7% |
| Thursday | 159 | 75% | 4.4% |
| Friday | 161 | 82% | 3.1% |
| Saturday | 75 | — | — |
| Sunday | 153 | 65% | 7.2% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: air traffic/airport 31 · airline 23 · weather 12
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 5116 | 6:00 a.m. | 298 | 86% | 5.7% | −14 min | Endeavor Air |
| DL 5455 | 5:35 p.m. | 226 | 63% | 11.1% | −10 min | Endeavor Air |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 9, 2025 | 4 | 0% | 0 |
| Aug 4, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Dec 19, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 2 |
| Mar 23, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 2 |
| Aug 3, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 3 |
Questions
How often are flights from TYS to LGA on time?
73% of 1,042 scheduled flights from Knoxville, TN to New York, NY arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 6.3% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly TYS to LGA?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (86% on time). The 5 p.m. departures were the least (58%).
What month has the most delays from TYS to LGA?
July (68% on time). The best month is November (88%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from TYS to LGA more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last TYS–LGA flight of the day was cancelled 9.0% of the time over the past year, against 5.7% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- LGA → TYS (return)
- McGhee Tyson (TYS) delays by hour
- Flights into LaGuardia (LGA)
- 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.