73% of flights from Buffalo to New York arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 10 a.m. departures ran on time 81% of the time; the 8 p.m. ones 56%. Most reliable airline: Delta Air Lines (75%). 16% 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 BUF → JFK: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 43% of the time. About 1 in 11 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 47 three hours or more; 6.9% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early73%
- 15–30 min late5.5%
- 30–60 min late5.6%
- 1–2 hours late4.9%
- 2–3 hours late2.1%
- 3+ hours late2.1%
- Diverted0.2%
- Cancelled6.9%
Share of all 2,636 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 | 1,411 | 75% | 7.1% | −11 min | 7.2% | +86 min | Endeavor Air |
| JetBlue | 1,225 | 70% | 6.6% | −8 min | 11.3% | +90 min | JetBlue |
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 BUF). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Delta Air Lines | JetBlue |
|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | — | 82% |
| 7 a.m. | 82% | 72% |
| 9 a.m. | — | 77% |
| 10 a.m. | 88% | — |
| 11 a.m. | 82% | — |
| 3 p.m. | 69% | 63% |
| 7 p.m. | 68% | 67% |
| 8 p.m. | — | 54% |
Last flight of the day
On BUF → JFK, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 10.1% of the time, against 5.7% for its earlier flights (1.8× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 3.0% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JetBlue | 8:02 p.m. | 8.2% | 5.2% | 5.9% | first flight 6:40 a.m. |
| Delta Air Lines | 8:05 p.m. | 11.9% | 0.8% | 5.5% | first flight 7:00 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 JFK tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: October (86%). Worst: July (64%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 390 | 68% | 11.3% |
| Tuesday | 376 | 74% | 8.0% |
| Wednesday | 373 | 79% | 1.6% |
| Thursday | 374 | 73% | 5.3% |
| Friday | 375 | 78% | 5.1% |
| Saturday | 369 | 73% | 6.2% |
| Sunday | 379 | 65% | 10.3% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: air traffic/airport 81 · weather 54 · airline 46
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B6 2001 | 6:00 a.m. | 342 | 80% | 4.4% | −11 min | JetBlue |
| DL 5284 | 7:00 a.m. | 360 | 80% | 4.4% | −10 min | Endeavor Air |
| B6 1901 | 9:38 a.m. | 254 | 72% | 5.5% | −8 min | JetBlue |
| DL 5426 | 10:00 a.m. | 136 | 85% | 2.2% | −8 min | Endeavor Air |
| DL 5296 | 3:53 p.m. | 218 | 67% | 11.9% | −11 min | Endeavor Air |
| B6 2901 | 3:55 p.m. | 230 | 67% | 8.7% | −6 min | JetBlue |
| B6 201 | 7:59 p.m. | 180 | 57% | 10.0% | −1 min | JetBlue |
| DL 5250 | 7:59 p.m. | 347 | 66% | 11.8% | −13 min | Endeavor Air |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 30, 2025 | 9 | 0% | 1 |
| Nov 10, 2025 | 8 | 0% | 0 |
| Feb 23, 2026 | 8 | 0% | 8 |
| Feb 24, 2026 | 7 | 0% | 5 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 6 | 0% | 6 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Buffalo or New York. BUF → EWR has been 3 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| BUF → JFK (this route) | 2,636 | 73% | 6.9% |
| BUF → EWR Buffalo Niagara to Newark | 1,065 | 76% | 5.6% |
| ROC → JFK Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester to New York JFK | 1,677 | 76% | 6.0% |
| ROC → EWR Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester to Newark | 1,026 | 75% | 6.0% |
| BUF → LGA Buffalo Niagara to LaGuardia | 2,316 | 72% | 5.9% |
| ROC → LGA Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester to LaGuardia | 974 | 68% | 6.8% |
Questions
How often are flights from BUF to JFK on time?
73% of 2,636 scheduled flights from Buffalo, NY to New York, NY arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 6.9% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly BUF to JFK?
Flights scheduled to leave at 10 a.m. were the most reliable (81% on time). The 8 p.m. departures were the least (56%).
Which airline is most on time from BUF to JFK?
Delta Air Lines: 75% of its 1,411 flights on the route arrived on time. JetBlue: 70%.
What month has the most delays from BUF to JFK?
July (64% on time). The best month is October (86%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from BUF to JFK more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last BUF–JFK flight of the day was cancelled 10.1% 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
- JFK → BUF (return)
- Buffalo Niagara (BUF) delays by hour
- Flights into New York JFK (JFK)
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- JetBlue 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.