Holiday record
Presidents Day weekend 2025 flight delays
Friday 14 February 2025 to Monday 17 February 2025 · 75,449 flights
Historical statistics for Presidents Day weekend 2025, not live status and not a forecast for a future Presidents Day weekend.
Something went badly wrong over Presidents Day weekend 2025: only 64.1% of flights arrived on time, against 82.4% either side of the holiday. A 18.3 points fall on this scale almost always traces to weather at the big hubs rather than to holiday traffic alone. Beyond that, late flights averaged 83 minutes against 68 and cancellations came to 3.19% against 1.09%.
Key figures
On time
64.1%
Normal weeks: 82.4%
Avg delay
83 min
Delayed flights only. Normal weeks: 68 min
Cancelled
3.19%
Normal weeks: 1.09%
1 hour+ late
15.6%
Normal weeks: 5.8%
Counted from Friday 14 February 2025 to Monday 17 February 2025, the holiday put 75,449 flights on the schedule over 4 days. Airlines added capacity for it: 18,862 flights a day against 17,974 in the surrounding weeks, up 5%.
Against normal weeks
Presidents Day weekend 2025 next to the weeks around it
| Period | Flights | On time | Normal weeks | Change | Cancelled | Normal weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All flights, Presidents Day weekend 2025 | 75,449 | 64.1% | 82.4% | −18.3 | 3.19% | 1.09% |
“Normal weeks” are the two weeks either side of the holiday, leaving out other holiday periods. Change is in percentage points.
Day by day
Which day of Presidents Day weekend ran best
Neither the outbound nor the return rush was the low point; that came on Sunday 16 February at 57.5% on time, 26.8 points below the 84.3% of ordinary Sundays. The best day was Friday 14 February at 71.4%, which was also the busiest, with 19,833 flights scheduled. 4 of the 4 days ran below the figure for the same weekday in the baseline weeks.
Compared day for day with ordinary weeks: Fri 14 −14.3, Sat 15 −21.9, Sun 16 −26.8, Mon 17 −24.1 points. The longest bad stretch ran 4 days, from Friday 14 February to Monday 17 February.
| Day | Flights | On time | Normal weeks | Change | Cancelled | Normal weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 14 February | 19,833 | 71.4% | 85.7% | −14.3 | 1.27% | 0.65% |
| Saturday 15 February | 16,823 | 65.6% | 87.5% | −21.9 | 1.88% | 0.82% |
| Sunday 16 February | 18,978 | 57.5% | 84.3% | −26.8 | 6.52% | 0.71% |
| Monday 17 February | 19,815 | 61.5% | 85.6% | −24.1 | 3.02% | 0.69% |
“Normal weeks” are the two weeks either side of the holiday, leaving out other holiday periods. Change is in percentage points.
Here “normal weeks” means the same day of the week in the baseline weeks, so a Sunday is set against the baseline Sundays.
Departure window
The best time of day to fly it
The later the flight, the worse the odds: 5am–8am departures 80.1% on time, 5pm–8pm departures 52.6%. The 5pm–8pm window moved most against its normal weeks, 25.5 points worse than 78.1%.
| Departure | Flights | On time | Normal weeks | Change | Cancelled | Normal weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–8am | 12,356 | 80.1% | 88.5% | −8.4 | 3.02% | 1.20% |
| 8am–11am | 13,886 | 72.6% | 85.4% | −12.8 | 2.56% | 0.92% |
| 11am–2pm | 13,373 | 64.2% | 82.5% | −18.3 | 2.62% | 0.88% |
| 2pm–5pm | 13,195 | 57.8% | 79.9% | −22.1 | 3.28% | 0.89% |
| 5pm–8pm | 13,105 | 52.6% | 78.1% | −25.5 | 4.04% | 1.32% |
| 8pm–5am | 9,534 | 55.2% | 79.6% | −24.4 | 3.81% | 1.50% |
“Normal weeks” are the two weeks either side of the holiday, leaving out other holiday periods. Change is in percentage points.
Airport by airport
Airports over Presidents Day weekend 2025
Ranked by on-time rate, Honolulu (HNL) at 85.7%, Sacramento (SMF) at 81.1% and Los Angeles (LAX) at 81.1% led the large airports and Detroit (DTW) at 43.3%, Boston (BOS) at 45.9% and New York (JFK) at 48.6% trailed. Detroit (DTW) fell furthest against its own normal weeks, from 79.0% to 43.3%. Against their own normal weeks, 41 of 42 slipped.
Three hubs set the tone for the whole network: Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW, 3,415 departures, 69.1% on time), Denver (DEN, 3,407 departures, 51.7% on time) and Atlanta (ATL, 3,229 departures, 49.7% on time). Between them they handled 13% of departures.
Going the other way, Honolulu (HNL, +0.1 points) ran better than its normal weeks.
When flights did run late, how late depended on where. Delayed departures from Washington (DCA) averaged 111 minutes, against 80 in its normal weeks, the longest of any large airport; at San Jose (SJC) the average was 53 minutes.
Holiday traffic did not rise evenly. Daily departures rose most at Fort Myers (RSW, +16%), Tampa (TPA, +12%) and Fort Lauderdale (FLL, +11%), and fell most at New York (LGA, −6%). 3 of the three fastest-growing airports ran below their normal on-time rate.
| Airport | Flights | On time | Normal weeks | Change | Cancelled | Normal weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) | 3,415 | 69.1% | 80.1% | −11.0 | 1.67% | 1.25% |
| Denver (DEN) | 3,407 | 51.7% | 79.9% | −28.2 | 2.05% | 0.52% |
| Atlanta (ATL) | 3,229 | 49.7% | 83.1% | −33.4 | 0.99% | 0.21% |
| Chicago (ORD) | 2,944 | 51.8% | 80.9% | −29.1 | 2.96% | 0.74% |
| Phoenix (PHX) | 2,378 | 76.7% | 86.8% | −10.1 | 0.46% | 0.37% |
| Charlotte (CLT) | 2,331 | 59.3% | 79.4% | −20.1 | 4.38% | 2.46% |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 2,171 | 73.1% | 85.3% | −12.2 | 0.37% | 0.88% |
| Los Angeles (LAX) | 2,019 | 81.1% | 86.1% | −5.0 | 0.69% | 0.62% |
| Orlando (MCO) | 1,979 | 60.1% | 84.8% | −24.7 | 3.34% | 0.42% |
| Seattle (SEA) | 1,563 | 72.0% | 79.4% | −7.4 | 1.15% | 1.16% |
| Washington (DCA) | 1,540 | 50.9% | 68.9% | −18.0 | 16.95% | 5.66% |
| Boston (BOS) | 1,537 | 45.9% | 75.5% | −29.6 | 9.89% | 1.11% |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 1,492 | 80.5% | 82.4% | −1.9 | 1.07% | 0.97% |
| Miami (MIA) | 1,412 | 63.1% | 82.6% | −19.5 | 3.12% | 0.50% |
| Newark (EWR) | 1,365 | 53.7% | 80.5% | −26.8 | 4.03% | 0.62% |
| New York (LGA) | 1,356 | 48.9% | 81.2% | −32.3 | 10.99% | 1.08% |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 1,279 | 72.6% | 84.8% | −12.2 | 0.55% | 0.30% |
| Detroit (DTW) | 1,242 | 43.3% | 79.0% | −35.7 | 2.17% | 0.64% |
| Houston (IAH) | 1,238 | 76.0% | 82.7% | −6.7 | 0.97% | 0.32% |
| New York (JFK) | 1,171 | 48.6% | 78.0% | −29.4 | 6.83% | 1.08% |
| Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | 1,164 | 61.3% | 83.6% | −22.3 | 2.75% | 0.59% |
| Minneapolis (MSP) | 1,107 | 63.4% | 85.3% | −21.9 | 1.81% | 0.36% |
| Nashville (BNA) | 1,040 | 63.6% | 85.2% | −21.6 | 3.17% | 1.09% |
| Tampa (TPA) | 1,003 | 61.7% | 85.3% | −23.6 | 2.79% | 0.48% |
| Baltimore (BWI) | 1,003 | 59.7% | 84.2% | −24.5 | 2.29% | 0.78% |
| San Diego (SAN) | 992 | 75.4% | 82.3% | −6.9 | 0.50% | 0.73% |
| Philadelphia (PHL) | 963 | 59.6% | 78.9% | −19.3 | 5.82% | 2.71% |
| Austin (AUS) | 866 | 73.0% | 85.4% | −12.4 | 0.69% | 0.34% |
| Dallas (DAL) | 792 | 72.0% | 85.4% | −13.4 | 0.76% | 0.36% |
| Chicago (MDW) | 717 | 62.6% | 86.6% | −24.0 | 0.70% | 0.66% |
“Normal weeks” are the two weeks either side of the holiday, leaving out other holiday periods. Change is in percentage points.
Route by route
The busiest routes over Presidents Day weekend 2025
No route reached 500 flights over the 4 days, so none is ranked. The busiest were HNL to OGG (126 flights, 83.1% on time against 88.7% normally), OGG to HNL (126 flights, 79.0% on time against 86.0% normally) and SFO to LAX (125 flights, 82.3% on time against 78.2% normally); 2 of the ten busiest beat their normal weeks, and all ten appear below with a small-sample mark.
| Route | Flights | On time | Normal weeks | Change | Cancelled | Normal weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HNL to OGGsmall sample | 126 | 83.1% | 88.7% | −5.6 | 1.59% | 0.90% |
| OGG to HNLsmall sample | 126 | 79.0% | 86.0% | −7.0 | 1.59% | 1.35% |
| SFO to LAXsmall sample | 125 | 82.3% | 78.2% | +4.1 | 0.80% | 0.12% |
| LAX to SFOsmall sample | 125 | 74.2% | 70.5% | +3.7 | 0.80% | 0.37% |
| DEN to PHXsmall sample | 117 | 60.3% | 81.9% | −21.6 | 0.85% | 0.40% |
| LGA to ORDsmall sample | 116 | 45.2% | 79.9% | −34.7 | 10.34% | 0.80% |
| ORD to LGAsmall sample | 116 | 59.4% | 84.8% | −25.4 | 11.21% | 0.57% |
| PHX to DENsmall sample | 114 | 76.1% | 89.3% | −13.2 | 0.88% | 0.13% |
| LAX to LASsmall sample | 110 | 80.9% | 82.2% | −1.3 | 0.00% | 0.70% |
| LAS to LAXsmall sample | 108 | 71.3% | 85.8% | −14.5 | 0.00% | 0.28% |
“Normal weeks” are the two weeks either side of the holiday, leaving out other holiday periods. Change is in percentage points.
Carrier by carrier
Airlines over Presidents Day weekend 2025
PSA Airlines had the weakest holiday at 47.8% on time, 30.5 points behind Hawaiian Airlines at 78.3%. Republic Airways lost the most ground against its own normal weeks, 27.8 points.
The number that decides a missed connection is the share of flights an hour or more late. 15.6% of arrivals over Presidents Day weekend 2025 were an hour or more late, against 5.8% normally, up 9.8 points. Washington (DCA) had the highest share among large airports at 29.9%.
Cancellations spiked: 3.19% of all flights, more than double the 1.09% of normal weeks. The worst-hit were Washington (DCA) at 16.95%, New York (LGA) at 10.99% and Boston (BOS) at 9.89%, and PSA Airlines cancelled the most among carriers at 19.33%.
| Airline | Flights | On time | Normal weeks | Change | Cancelled | Normal weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 15,519 | 69.2% | 86.4% | −17.2 | 0.72% | 0.53% |
| American Airlines | 10,412 | 67.1% | 81.9% | −14.8 | 1.96% | 1.04% |
| Delta Air Lines | 10,044 | 58.6% | 84.3% | −25.7 | 0.85% | 0.12% |
| SkyWest Airlines | 8,633 | 64.2% | 79.2% | −15.0 | 3.58% | 1.35% |
| United Airlines | 8,473 | 66.9% | 84.4% | −17.5 | 0.70% | 0.23% |
| Republic Airways | 3,555 | 54.9% | 82.7% | −27.8 | 13.08% | 1.68% |
| Envoy Air | 2,986 | 67.1% | 84.2% | −17.1 | 2.08% | 1.43% |
| PSA Airlines | 2,845 | 47.8% | 67.6% | −19.8 | 19.33% | 8.59% |
| JetBlue Airways | 2,772 | 50.0% | 76.5% | −26.5 | 9.27% | 1.19% |
| Frontier Airlines | 2,621 | 61.6% | 77.8% | −16.2 | 3.97% | 0.76% |
| Spirit Airlines | 2,562 | 63.3% | 84.9% | −21.6 | 3.40% | 0.57% |
| Alaska Airlines | 2,417 | 72.1% | 80.5% | −8.4 | 2.36% | 1.94% |
| Allegiant Air | 1,743 | 58.4% | 80.2% | −21.8 | 2.87% | 0.41% |
| Hawaiian Airlines | 867 | 78.3% | 81.5% | −3.2 | 0.58% | 0.83% |
“Normal weeks” are the two weeks either side of the holiday, leaving out other holiday periods. Change is in percentage points.
Year on year
Presidents Day weekend across the years
On-time rate by year: 82.0% in 2023, 78.4% in 2024, 64.1% in 2025 and 78.2% in 2026. 2025 sits at the bottom of it. A measurable effect turned up in 2 of the 4.
| Year | Flights | On time | Normal weeks | Change | Cancelled | Normal weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023, close to normal | 71,995 | 82.0% | 80.5% | +1.5 | 0.44% | 1.55% |
| 2024 | 73,096 | 78.4% | 84.2% | −5.8 | 0.40% | 0.60% |
| 2025 (this page) | 75,449 | 64.1% | 82.4% | −18.3 | 3.19% | 1.09% |
| 2026, close to normal | 76,916 | 78.2% | 80.6% | −2.4 | 1.27% | 2.59% |
“Normal weeks” are the two weeks either side of the holiday, leaving out other holiday periods. Change is in percentage points.
What to do with this
Planning around Presidents Day weekend
If 2025 is any guide: Friday 14 February was the best day to fly; book before the evening, since 5pm–8pm departures ran 27.5 points worse than 5am–8am ones; and allow extra connection time at Detroit (DTW) and Indianapolis (IND). Treat that as one data point; the Presidents Day weekend overview shows which of these patterns repeat.
On time means arriving less than 15 minutes after the scheduled gate time. Average delay counts delayed flights only; cancellations are a share of every scheduled flight. A holiday is compared with the two weeks either side of it, leaving out days that belong to other holidays. The measurable-effect test asks for 3 points of on-time rate, 5 minutes of average delay or 2 points of cancellations; airports, routes and carriers need 500 flights in the window to be ranked. The US DOT publishes on-time data about two months after the month it covers.
Related
Where to go next
- Presidents Day weekend: every year and the next one
- Presidents Day weekend 2023
- Presidents Day weekend 2024
- Presidents Day weekend 2026
- Press kit: chart, data file and summary for Presidents Day weekend 2025
- Every US travel holiday
- The holidays that fly better than a normal week
- The busiest US travel days, and what they cost in punctuality
- Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) all year
- Denver International (DEN) all year
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) all year
Holiday comparisons use US DOT on-time data from December 2022 to June 2026. Methodology.
Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics, on-time performance data, July 2025 to June 2026. Last updated 15 September 2026; recomputed monthly. How this data is collected.