5 Best Flight Status APIs in 2026

Flight status APIs are essential for delivering real-time flight data and help airlines and travel agencies keep their customers stay updated on delays, cancellations, and arrivals.  These APIs streamline the flow of crucial information to ensure smooth travel and logistics.  In this blog, we have listed top APIs for tracking flight status available in 2026.  Before getting there, let’s understand more about it. What is Flight Status API? A Flight Status API provides real-time information on flight departures, arrivals, delays, and terminal details. With this API, you can track any flight using its flight number and airline code. To use it, you’ll need to send a GET request with a few parameters. Detailed instructions and additional information are available on API documentation.  Explore Top 5 Flight Status APIs  API Name Key Features Free Trial / Plan Starting Price 1. FlightAPI Real-time global flight tracking; supports both commercial & private flights; data from airlines, airports & partners; filter by airline, departure, or arrival airport. ✅ Free credits available $49/month 2. Aviation Stack Covers 250+ countries; provides flight schedules, airline info, airport timetables, and live tracking; ideal for basic tracking needs. ✅ Free plan available $49.99/month 3. Cirium Provides scheduled, estimated, and actual flight times; terminal, gate, and aircraft details; pre- and post-flight tracking up to 10 days. ❌ No free plan (contact for demo) Custom pricing 4. AirLabs Tracks live flight data including altitude, speed, direction, and location; filter by flight number, airline, or airport codes; ideal for maps & live tracking apps. ✅ Free tier available Custom pricing 5. Aviation Edge Aggregated data from hundreds of aviation partners; global flight tracking; includes IATA/ICAO codes, aircraft registration, and airline info. ❌ No free plan $299/month 1. FlightAPI FlightAPI offers a powerful and comprehensive solution for tracking flights globally with a simple GET request. With over 8,000 clients, it stands as one of the fastest and most flexible Flight Data APIs available. Whether you’re tracking commercial or private flights, our Flight Tracking API provides real-time data such as departure and arrival times, airport codes, flight status, and more. The data is sourced directly from airlines, airport authorities, and industry partners to ensure up-to-the-minute accuracy. With the ability to track any flight using its flight number and airline code, FlightAPI is perfect for developers building travel-related apps. It also allows users to filter flights by airline, departure airport, or arrival airport by offering versatile tracking options. Pricing starts at $49 per month. Be sure to check out the documentation for detailed instructions and easy integration tips. If you’re someone looking to extract flight status in bulk, check out our guide on automating flight status data using FlightAPI’s tracking API and Google Sheets. Beyond that, we’ve also published several tutorials to help you make the most out of it: These tutorials give you hands-on examples, whether you prefer no-code tools like Google Sheets and Lovable, or full coding flexibility with Python. 2. Aviation Stack Aviation Stack offers a global aviation data API. It provides access to flight schedules, airline details, airport timetables, and real-time tracking software across 250+ countries. The API delivers accurate flight statuses, including departure and arrival details which makes it a good option for basic tracking needs. Pricing starts at $49.99 per month, and you can check the API documentation from the website for further details and easy integration options. 3. Cirium Cirium’s offers detailed and real-time flight information, including scheduled, estimated, and actual departure/arrival times, terminal details, gate information, and aircraft type. The API answers critical questions about delays, cancellations, and current flight status for flights up to three days before departure and seven days after arrival. While offering robust features, such as tracking by airport, flight number, or route, Cirium’s API also includes flight status updates that reflect changes over time. This makes it a reliable tool for aviation professionals and businesses needing detailed flight data. Pricing plans vary, with premium options available for extended tracking features.  Their API pricing is not mentioned on the website, and to get more information about the API, you can check the documentation. If you’d like to see how Cirium stacks up against other major providers, check out our detailed comparison of Cirium vs OAG vs FlightAPI. 4. AirLabs AirLabs API offers a comprehensive real-time flight tracking solution that allows users to monitor live flight data such as location, altitude, speed, direction, and current status. With customizable parameters, you can filter data by flight number, airline, or airport codes.  Whether you’re building an app to track individual flights or displaying all active flights on a map, this API provides up-to-date and accurate information. Pricing is competitive, which makes it accessible for businesses that need reliable aviation data. For more details on integration and features, be sure to check the API documentation. 5. Aviation Edge Aviation Edge’s API offers comprehensive live tracking for airborne flights. With data aggregated from hundreds of aviation partners, this API delivers essential details like aircraft speed, location, altitude, and direction. You can track flights globally in real-time or filter by specific airlines, flight numbers, or airports. The API provides IATA and ICAO codes for departure and arrival locations, aircraft registration numbers, and airline information. Pricing starts at $299/month. Check out the documentation for more details and integration options. How to Choose the Best One For Your Needs? When selecting a realiable API for tracking flight status data several key factors come into play: Accuracy and Reliability: Up-to-date and precise information is essential. You need an API that provides real-time data without delays or inaccuracies. Coverage: The more airlines and airports are covered, the better. Broad coverage ensures you can track flights globally, which is crucial for most applications. Latency: How fast does the API update? Real-time performance is important, especially for tracking live flights. Ease of Integration: Look for an API that integrates seamlessly into your system. Clear documentation and support can save you headaches during implementation. Cost: Pricing can vary. Some APIs charge by usage, while others