76% of flights from Boston to Cincinnati arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is about the typical U.S. route. The 8 a.m. departures ran on time 84% of the time; the 8 p.m. ones 63%. Most reliable airline: Delta Air Lines (77%). 11% 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 BOS → CVG: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 51% of the time. About 1 in 13 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 206 three hours or more; 2.9% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early76%
- 15–30 min late6.8%
- 30–60 min late6.0%
- 1–2 hours late5.0%
- 2–3 hours late2.2%
- 3+ hours late0.5%
- Diverted0.2%
- Cancelled2.9%
Share of all 2,060 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 | 1,420 | 77% | 3.2% | −9 min | 6.1% | +55 min | Republic Airways 99%, Delta Air Lines 1% |
| American Airlines | 640 | 74% | 2.2% | −7 min | 11.1% | +82 min | Envoy 58%, Republic Airways 42% |
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 BOS). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 a.m. | 85% | — |
| 11 a.m. | 83% | 84% |
| 2 p.m. | 80% | — |
| 5 p.m. | 67% | — |
| 6 p.m. | 76% | 64% |
| 7 p.m. | — | 72% |
| 8 p.m. | 63% | — |
Last flight of the day
On BOS → CVG, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 3.6% of the time, against 2.7% for its earlier flights (1.3× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 1.1% of the time (earlier flights: 0.1%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 6:20 p.m. | 2.2% | 1.5% | 2.5% | first flight 11:59 a.m. |
| Delta Air Lines | 8:45 p.m. | 4.7% | 0.8% | 2.8% | first flight 8:45 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: March (84%). Worst: July (70%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 320 | 72% | 5.3% |
| Tuesday | 316 | 77% | 5.4% |
| Wednesday | 315 | 83% | 1.3% |
| Thursday | 314 | 76% | 2.2% |
| Friday | 311 | 80% | 0.3% |
| Saturday | 210 | 77% | 1.4% |
| Sunday | 274 | 70% | 4.0% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: air traffic/airport 26 · weather 21 · airline 13
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 5601 | 8:45 a.m. | 352 | 84% | 3.7% | −12 min | Republic Airways |
| AA 4760 | 11:55 a.m. | 121 | 83% | 1.7% | −9 min | Republic Airways |
| DL 5789 | 2:35 p.m. | 305 | 80% | 1.6% | −9 min | Republic Airways |
| DL 5620 | 5:00 p.m. | 219 | 74% | 3.6% | −8 min | Republic Airways |
| AA 3408 | 6:20 p.m. | 176 | 68% | 0.6% | −1 min | Envoy |
| DL 5801 | 8:50 p.m. | 162 | 59% | 5.6% | −1 min | Republic Airways |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 21, 2026 | 7 | 0% | 1 |
| Jun 18, 2026 | 7 | 0% | 0 |
| Aug 7, 2026 | 7 | 0% | 0 |
| Sep 25, 2025 | 6 | 0% | 6 |
| Feb 23, 2026 | 6 | 0% | 6 |
Questions
How often are flights from BOS to CVG on time?
76% of 2,060 scheduled flights from Boston, MA to Cincinnati, OH arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 2.9% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly BOS to CVG?
Flights scheduled to leave at 8 a.m. were the most reliable (84% on time). The 8 p.m. departures were the least (63%).
Which airline is most on time from BOS to CVG?
Delta Air Lines: 77% of its 1,420 flights on the route arrived on time. American Airlines: 74%.
What month has the most delays from BOS to CVG?
July (70% on time). The best month is March (84%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from BOS to CVG more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last BOS–CVG flight of the day was cancelled 3.6% of the time over the past year, against 2.7% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- CVG → BOS (return)
- Boston Logan (BOS) delays by hour
- Flights into Cincinnati Northern Kentucky (CVG)
- 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.