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Martin Luther King Jr. weekend 2026 flight delays: press kit

Cancellations define Martin Luther King Jr. weekend 2026: 0.74% of scheduled flights never operated, against 5.54% in the weeks around it, a gap of 4.8 points. Beyond that, the on-time rate was 76.8% against 80.3% and late flights averaged 69 minutes against 77.

Five-point summary

• 76.8% of 70,081 flights arrived on time, against 80.3% in the two weeks either side (a measurable holiday effect).
• Cancellations: 0.74% against 5.54%. Delayed flights averaged 69 minutes late against 77.
• Worst day: Sunday 18 January 2026, 72.4% on time.
• Largest airport decline against its own normal weeks: Minneapolis (MSP), 75.3% to 51.3%.
• Best departure window: 5am–8am (84.4%). Most punctual large carrier: Alaska Airlines (85.8%).

Chart

Download the chart (PNG, 1200×630)

Data

Download every figure on the page (CSV): headline, day by day, departure windows, airports, airlines and the ten busiest routes, each against the two weeks either side of the holiday.

Cite as

Window: Friday 16 January 2026 to Monday 19 January 2026. On time means arriving less than 15 minutes after the scheduled gate time. Historical statistics, not a forecast. Source data is a US federal government work in the public domain.