KCI Flight Delays Rise Sharply in Winter
Axios analysis finds about one in four Kansas City International arrivals landed late from November through December 2025.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Air Travel
About 24.6% of arrivals at Kansas City International Airport landed late between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, 2025, according to an Axios analysis of nearly 16,000 flights. Late arrivals climbed from about 21% of flights in November to about 28% in December.
Why it matters
The late-arrival rate at KCI was slightly above the national rate of about 23.7%, meaning Kansas City travelers faced delays comparable to those across the country. Delays were concentrated on heavy-snow days and weekends, which can disrupt connections and travel plans.
Canceled flights, about 1.6% of departures, are not counted as late in the analysis. Southwest operates about half of KCI's departures, and about 24% of those left late, compared with 19% for Delta and 17% for United.
The players
Kansas City International Airport (KCI)
The main airport serving the Kansas City metropolitan area, where the delay data was collected.
Axios
The news outlet whose analysis of nearly 16,000 KCI flights produced the delay figures.
The details
On Nov. 30, record snow fell near the airport and just over half of flights landed late, with late arrivals reaching around 70% and late departures nearly 75%. Airline maintenance and crew problems caused about a third of delay time, while weather and air traffic issues accounted for most of the rest.
Timeline
Nov. 1, 2025: Analysis period begins for KCI flight data.
Nov. 30, 2025: Record snow fell and just over half of flights landed late.
Dec. 31, 2025: Analysis period ends for KCI flight data.
Season Trajectory
KCI's late-arrival rate of about 24.6% ran just above the national figure of about 23.7% over the same two months. The rise from about 21% in November to about 28% in December mirrors the seasonal pattern of winter disruption across U.S. hubs.
Travelers flying through KCI in winter should expect a higher chance of late arrivals, especially on Sundays, when about a third of flights landed late. Booking earlier-day flights and allowing extra connection time can help reduce the risk of missed onward flights.
The takeaway
Winter weather and airline operations both drove KCI delays, so flexible booking and extra connection time offer the most practical protection. Checking flight status before leaving for the airport can save time when conditions change quickly.
Further reading
For more on how winter weather is affecting schedules, see Air Travel coverage for Kansas City.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Axios.
