Chart assignment
Charts to read and discuss
Read each chart, then answer its questions. Every chart shows its source and date; open it for a table of the numbers and the data to download.
Chart 1 of 1 · Air travel
What time of day are flights most likely to be delayed?
The interactive chart needs JavaScript. The numbers are on the chart's page.
In the 12 months to August 2026, 8.0% of flights scheduled to leave between 6 and 7 a.m. left 15 or more minutes late, against 35.7% of those leaving between 8 and 9 p.m. Delays build through the day as late planes make their next flights late too, so the first flight of the morning is the safest bet. Hours are local time at the departure airport.
Questions to discuss
- In one sentence of your own, what does this chart show?
- Find the biggest change or difference in the chart. What might explain it?
- Who collected these numbers, and how recent are they? What else would you want to know before drawing a conclusion?
Source: U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Airline On-Time Performance (Reporting Carrier On-Time Performance, 1987–present) (Public domain (U.S. government work)) · Data as of Aug 31, 2026
Open the chart and its numbersTeachers: make your own chart assignment, or change this one. Free, no account needed.