American vs United: On-Time Performance Compared

Last 12 months · Aug 2025 – Jul 2026

Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026

Over the last 12 months 79.3% of United flights arrived on time, compared with 74.6% for American.

United cancelled fewer flights (1.0% vs 2.2%), and late flights averaged 85 minutes late on American vs 71 on United.

On the 188 routes both airlines fly regularly, American had the better on-time record on 32 and United on 156.

American vs United: key numbers

Last 12 months, all flights each airline operated.

AmericanUnited

On-time arrivals74.6%79.3%

On-time departures73.6%81.4%

Cancelled2.2%1.0%

Diverted0.4%0.3%

On-time arrival % each month, last 24 months.

AmericanUnited

60%70%80%90%

Aug ’24Nov ’24Feb ’25May ’25Aug ’25Nov ’25Feb ’26May ’26

Share of each airline’s reported delay minutes by cause, last 12 months.

AmericanUnited

Airline (carrier)33.7%25.6%

Weather5.6%4.2%

Air traffic system (NAS)13.6%34.0%

Security0.1%0.0%

Late-arriving aircraft46.9%36.2%

188 routes where each airline had at least 100 completed flights in the last 12 months; the 25 busiest are shown. Better on-time rate in bold.

Route	American on time	United on time	American flights	United flights
ORD → LGA	65.0%	67.3%	2,962	4,665
LGA → ORD	68.8%	67.3%	2,961	4,665
LAX → ORD	72.8%	80.4%	3,061	3,388
ORD → LAX	68.8%	77.2%	3,062	3,387
DFW → ORD	66.1%	71.8%	4,245	2,043
ORD → DFW	68.8%	74.2%	4,242	2,043
DCA → ORD	74.5%	74.9%	2,272	3,389
ORD → DCA	67.3%	71.3%	2,270	3,390
SFO → ORD	72.7%	77.6%	1,768	3,830
ORD → SFO	62.5%	69.9%	1,769	3,828
ORD → DEN	66.2%	78.9%	1,476	3,816
DEN → ORD	73.8%	72.3%	1,474	3,815
ORD → EWR	56.9%	72.1%	833	4,391
EWR → ORD	78.0%	71.4%	831	4,389
PHX → ORD	78.5%	76.9%	2,997	1,967
ORD → PHX	71.0%	79.4%	2,994	1,968
DFW → IAH	58.7%	77.3%	2,496	2,453
IAH → DFW	73.8%	76.1%	2,495	2,454
ORD → BOS	60.2%	69.3%	2,156	2,735
BOS → ORD	73.4%	75.8%	2,155	2,733
IAH → ORD	67.1%	78.6%	812	4,048
ORD → IAH	59.3%	80.1%	811	4,040
DEN → DFW	73.9%	77.6%	2,939	1,885
DFW → DEN	62.2%	77.2%	2,935	1,884
ORD → PHL	71.8%	73.1%	2,975	1,813