73% of flights from Newark to Cincinnati arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 9 a.m. departures ran on time 84% of the time; the 7 p.m. ones 63%. Most reliable airline: Delta Air Lines (74%). 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 EWR → CVG: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 39% of the time. About 1 in 10 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 43 three hours or more; 5.3% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early73%
- 15–30 min late5.6%
- 30–60 min late5.8%
- 1–2 hours late5.9%
- 2–3 hours late2.2%
- 3+ hours late2.3%
- Diverted0.0%
- Cancelled5.3%
Share of all 2,108 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 1,357 | 72% | 5.6% | −10 min | 10.8% | +84 min | GoJet 57%, Republic Airways 43% |
| Delta Air Lines | 690 | 74% | 5.1% | −10 min | 9.9% | +88 min | Endeavor Air |
| Allegiant Air | 61 | — | — | — | — | — | Allegiant Air |
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 EWR). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | United Airlines | Delta Air Lines |
|---|---|---|
| 8 a.m. | 77% | — |
| 9 a.m. | — | 84% |
| 1 p.m. | 70% | — |
| 3 p.m. | 65% | — |
| 7 p.m. | 63% | 61% |
| 8 p.m. | 66% | 61% |
Last flight of the day
On EWR → CVG, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 9.1% of the time, against 4.2% for its earlier flights (2.2× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 3.2% of the time (earlier flights: 2.2%). 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 | 8:15 p.m. | 10.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% | first flight 9:45 a.m. |
| United Airlines | 8:59 p.m. | 8.5% | 3.3% | 4.5% | first flight 8:24 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 CVG 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 (83%). Worst: July (66%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 339 | 72% | 6.2% |
| Tuesday | 309 | 72% | 5.8% |
| Wednesday | 306 | 73% | 2.6% |
| Thursday | 315 | 76% | 4.8% |
| Friday | 331 | 76% | 3.0% |
| Saturday | 204 | 75% | 4.9% |
| Sunday | 304 | 66% | 9.5% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 51 · air traffic/airport 50 · airline 10
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 5026 | 9:45 a.m. | 346 | 84% | 1.5% | −12 min | Endeavor Air |
| DL 5065 | 8:15 p.m. | 196 | 64% | 10.7% | −9 min | Endeavor Air |
| UA 3667 | 8:59 p.m. | 134 | 71% | 11.2% | −19 min | Republic Airways |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 9, 2025 | 8 | 0% | 5 |
| Dec 14, 2025 | 7 | 0% | 4 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 7 | 0% | 7 |
| Feb 23, 2026 | 7 | 0% | 7 |
| Nov 30, 2025 | 7 | 0% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Newark or Cincinnati. None has been clearly more reliable than EWR → CVG.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| EWR → CVG (this route) | 2,108 | 73% | 5.3% |
| JFK → CVG New York JFK to Cincinnati Northern Kentucky | 1,741 | 75% | 4.6% |
| LGA → CVG LaGuardia to Cincinnati Northern Kentucky | 1,855 | 70% | 6.0% |
Questions
How often are flights from EWR to CVG on time?
73% of 2,108 scheduled flights from Newark, NJ to Cincinnati, OH arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 5.3% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly EWR to CVG?
Flights scheduled to leave at 9 a.m. were the most reliable (84% on time). The 7 p.m. departures were the least (63%).
Which airline is most on time from EWR to CVG?
Delta Air Lines: 74% of its 690 flights on the route arrived on time. United Airlines: 72%.
What month has the most delays from EWR to CVG?
July (66% on time). The best month is October (83%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from EWR to CVG more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last EWR–CVG flight of the day was cancelled 9.1% of the time over the past year, against 4.2% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- CVG → EWR (return)
- Newark (EWR) delays by hour
- Flights into Cincinnati Northern Kentucky (CVG)
- United Airlines on-time record
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- Allegiant Air 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.