Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL): Delays & On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) runs noticeably smoother than most US airports: 86% of its ~159 daily departures leave on time, 8 points above the national average, with an average departure delay of just 9 minutes. 6 airlines fly from Honolulu, HI to 34 destinations.
- Departures on-time
- 86%
- left <15 min late
- Avg dep delay
- 9 min
- Arrivals on-time
- 83%
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Destinations
- 34
- nonstop
- Airlines
- 6
Plan your departure from HNL
The choices most likely to improve your odds, based on this airport’s historical record.
- Best departure time
- Around 5 a.m.
- 96% on-time
- Best day to fly
- Tuesday
- 87% on-time
- Cancellation risk
- 0.9%
- below the US average
Monthly on-time trend
Best time of day to depart from HNL
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 85% | 9 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 87% | 8 min |
| Wednesday | 87% | 8 min |
| Thursday | 84% | 9 min |
| Friday | 82% | 12 min |
| Saturday | 85% | 10 min |
| Sunday | 85% | 10 min |
Busiest routes from HNL
Where flights into HNL come from
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| OGG (Kahului) → HNL | 10,075 | 88% | 7 min |
| LIH (Lihue) → HNL | 7,725 | 87% | 7 min |
| KOA (Kona) → HNL | 7,236 | 88% | 7 min |
| ITO (Hilo) → HNL | 6,290 | 87% | 7 min |
| LAX (Los Angeles) → HNL | 5,514 | 80% | 15 min |
| SEA (Seattle) → HNL | 2,933 | 69% | 21 min |
| SFO (San Francisco) → HNL | 2,466 | 82% | 12 min |
| LAS (Las Vegas) → HNL | 2,202 | 76% | 16 min |
What causes delays at HNL
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT, weighted across routes departing HNL.
- Late-arriving aircraft34%
- Airline operations55%
- National airspace system8%
- Weather3%
Alternative airports near Honolulu
Other airports within 120 miles, compared on departure reliability.
| Airport | Distance | On-time departures | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| OGG — Kahului International Airport | 101 mi | 87% | 9 min |
| LIH — Lihue Airport | 101 mi | 88% | 8 min |
Compare the airport-level record first, then check the exact route you plan to book.
Airline performance at HNL
| Airline | On-time departures | Avg delay | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 92% | 5 min | 27,277 |
| Delta Air Lines | 88% | 11 min | 7,903 |
| Hawaiian Airlines | 87% | 8 min | 48,470 |
| American Airlines | 86% | 19 min | 5,114 |
| United Airlines | 84% | 13 min | 10,613 |
| Alaska Airlines | 78% | 12 min | 24,608 |
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights delayed at HNL?
- 14% of departures from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport left 15+ minutes late between 2024-07 and 2026-07, with an average departure delay of 9 minutes. The national on-time average over the same period was 78%.
- What is the best time of day to depart from HNL?
- Flights scheduled around 5 a.m. depart on time 96% of the time at HNL, versus 79% around 3 p.m.. Booking before noon is the usual rule of thumb here.
- What is the worst month for delays at HNL?
- In this dataset, December 2025 was the weakest month at HNL, with 79% of departures on time.
- How often are flights cancelled at HNL?
- 0.9% of scheduled departures from HNL were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.
Popular route pages from this airport
Related guides
Based on 123,985 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.