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RecoverAir Reliability Index · Updated Monthly
Which US airlines actually run on time?
RecoverAir analyzed the latest US carrier on-time performance for February 2026. Spirit and JetBlue landed on time, barely six flights in ten; Alaska, United, and Southwest cleared eight in ten. The full ranking is below.
Index compiled by RecoverAir from the Air Travel Consumer Report, April 2026 issue (February 2026 data). View the underlying source report (PDF).
The February 2026 ranking
| # | Airline network | On-time arrivals | Performance | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska Airlines Network | 82.4% | Industry-leading | |
| 2 | United Airlines Network | 81.3% | Strong | |
| 3 | Southwest Airlines | 80.8% | Strong | |
| 4 | Delta Air Lines Network | 80.0% | Strong | |
| 5 | Allegiant Air | 77.2% | Mid-pack | |
| 6 | Frontier Airlines | 77.2% | Mid-pack | |
| 7 | American Airlines Network | 76.1% | Mid-pack | |
| 8 | Spirit Airlines | 62.8% | Trailing | |
| 9 | JetBlue Airways | 62.3% | Trailing |
Figures are on-time arrival percentages for each reporting marketing carrier network at all US airports. "Network" includes branded codeshare partners (regional carriers flying under the mainline brand). The February 2026 industry total was 78.5%.
What moved since January
RecoverAir tracks these standings month over month. Two shifts stand out:
Southwest led the entire industry in January at 82.4%, then slipped to third (80.8%) in February. Alaska went the other way, climbing from 77.9% to 82.4% to take the top spot. At the bottom, JetBlue declined further, from 63.7% in January to 62.3% in February, and Spirit fell from 66.6% to 62.8%. The gap between the best and worst networks widened to roughly twenty percentage points.
Why this matters if your flight was disrupted
A late or canceled flight is not just an inconvenience; depending on the cause and your route, you may be owed a refund, reimbursement of expenses, or compensation. Under current US rules, a canceled flight entitles you to a cash refund to your original payment method, not a voucher, unless you accept one. When the disruption is within the airline's control, the major US carriers also commit to covering meals, hotels, and rebooking.
The airlines at the bottom of this table are, statistically, the ones whose passengers most often face that situation. Most travelers never claim what they are owed.
Citing this index
This data is free to cite and link. Underlying figures come from public records; our index organizes and ranks them. Suggested citation:
RecoverAir Airline Reliability Index (February 2026). https://www.travelwisetech.com/airline-reliability-index
Methodology
Rankings reflect on-time arrival percentages by reporting marketing carrier network, exactly as published in the most recent monthly Air Travel Consumer Report (April 2026 issue, covering February 2026 data). A flight is "on-time" under the standard government definition if it arrives at the gate less than 15 minutes after schedule. RecoverAir does not alter the underlying figures; we organize, rank, and contextualize them. Month-over-month observations draw from the same monthly report. The index updates each month when new data becomes available. RecoverAir is not affiliated with any government agency. Questions or corrections: hello@travelwisetech.com.
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