68% of flights from New York to Madison arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The noon departures ran on time 74% of the time; the 9 p.m. ones 59%. Most reliable airline: Delta Air Lines (71%). 19% 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 LGA → MSN: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 41% of the time. About 1 in 8 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 57 three hours or more; 6.5% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early68%
- 15–30 min late6.8%
- 30–60 min late6.1%
- 1–2 hours late8.6%
- 2–3 hours late2.5%
- 3+ hours late1.8%
- Diverted0.1%
- Cancelled6.5%
Share of all 1,027 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 | 664 | 71% | 5.1% | −10 min | 11.1% | +75 min | Republic Airways 85%, Endeavor Air 15%, Delta Air Lines 1% |
| American Airlines | 363 | 62% | 9.1% | −3 min | 16.0% | +91 min | 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 LGA). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Delta Air Lines | American Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| noon | 74% | — |
| 5 p.m. | 62% | 62% |
| 9 p.m. | — | 57% |
Last flight of the day
On LGA → MSN, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 5.7% of the time, against 5.0% for its earlier flights, about the same. It arrived 3+ hours late 2.7% of the time (earlier flights: 0.3%). 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 | 5:50 p.m. | 5.7% | 2.7% | 5.0% | first flight 12:45 p.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.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: September (83%). Worst: July (58%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 156 | 63% | 9.0% |
| Tuesday | 153 | 71% | 7.2% |
| Wednesday | 154 | 70% | 3.3% |
| Thursday | 153 | 65% | 7.2% |
| Friday | 152 | 74% | 5.3% |
| Saturday | 105 | 72% | 3.8% |
| Sunday | 154 | 59% | 9.1% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: air traffic/airport 27 · weather 22 · airline 18
Month by month
Not enough months with data to draw a trend.
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 26, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 2 |
| Jan 18, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Oct 12, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Aug 10, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 1 |
| Mar 29, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 1 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of New York or Madison. None has been clearly more reliable than LGA → MSN.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| LGA → MSN (this route) | 1,027 | 68% | 6.5% |
| EWR → MSN Newark to Dane Truax | 463 | 70% | 5.6% |
Questions
How often are flights from LGA to MSN on time?
68% of 1,027 scheduled flights from New York, NY to Madison, WI arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 6.5% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly LGA to MSN?
Flights scheduled to leave at noon were the most reliable (74% on time). The 9 p.m. departures were the least (59%).
Which airline is most on time from LGA to MSN?
Delta Air Lines: 71% of its 664 flights on the route arrived on time. American Airlines: 62%.
What month has the most delays from LGA to MSN?
July (58% on time). The best month is September (83%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from LGA to MSN more likely to be cancelled?
Not much. Each airline's last LGA–MSN flight of the day was cancelled 5.7% of the time over the past year, against 5.0% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- MSN → LGA (return)
- LaGuardia (LGA) delays by hour
- Flights into Dane Truax (MSN)
- 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.