LA Airport Delays: LAX vs Burbank vs Orange County

Ontario had the strongest published on-time departure rate in this comparison at 83.2%. LAX and Burbank were tied at 81.9%, while Orange County was 81.7%. The difference is useful, but destination choice and ground travel can still outweigh a small historical reliability edge.

All figures below describe historical departures, not live airport conditions or a prediction for an individual flight.

Key takeaways

• Ontario recorded an 83.2% on-time departure rate across 52,463 departures in FlightRecord’s 24-month dataset.
• LAX and Burbank both recorded 81.9% on-time departures, but Burbank’s average departure delay was 12.6 minutes versus 13.7 minutes at LAX.
• Orange County recorded an 81.7% on-time rate and a 14.4-minute average departure delay.
• LAX offered 116 destinations in the dataset, compared with 34 from Burbank, 40 from Orange County, and 27 from Ontario.

Which Los Angeles area airport had the strongest historical departure record?

Ontario had the strongest published on-time departure rate in this comparison at 83.2%. LAX and Burbank were tied at 81.9%, while Orange County was 81.7%. The difference is useful, but destination choice and ground travel can still outweigh a small historical reliability edge.

The following comparison keeps the measures separate so a higher on-time rate is not mistaken for a lower cancellation rate or a larger flight network.

• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) — 81.9% on-time departures, 13.7 minutes average departure delay, 0.8% cancelled, 383,561 departures, 116 destinations, and 12 airlines.
• Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport (BUR) — 81.9% on-time departures, 12.6 minutes average departure delay, 1.2% cancelled, 61,911 departures, 34 destinations, and 11 airlines.
• John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA) — 81.7% on-time departures, 14.4 minutes average departure delay, 1.0% cancelled, 88,667 departures, 40 destinations, and 9 airlines.
• Ontario International Airport (ONT) — 83.2% on-time departures, 12.3 minutes average departure delay, 0.9% cancelled, 52,463 departures, 27 destinations, and 10 airlines.

When should the historical winner change the airport choice?

Ontario is the reliability-first starting point when it serves the same itinerary. LAX remains the practical choice when a nonstop, schedule, or fare is materially better, because its destination network is much larger. Burbank and Orange County are close enough on historical reliability that the more convenient flight should usually decide the choice.

The term “on time” follows FlightRecord’s methodology: a flight arriving less than 15 minutes late. This guide reports departure-side airport measures, so it should not be read as an arrival guarantee.

How should travelers choose between Los Angeles area airports?

Use the airport comparison after narrowing the decision to real, bookable flights. These three checks keep a broad historical average in the right role.

• 1. Start with the airport that offers a nonstop on the itinerary you actually need; a historical airport average cannot make an extra connection disappear.
• 2. When the same carrier and itinerary are available, use Ontario’s higher on-time rate as a tie-breaker, then compare the scheduled departure hour.
• 3. Treat the LAX–Burbank tie as a prompt to compare the exact flight and airport access, not as proof that the airports will perform identically on a particular day.

How were these airport delay figures calculated?

FlightRecord analyzed 14,111,289 U.S. domestic flight records from 2024-06 through 2026-05—a 24-month period. The site aggregates the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ Airline On-Time Statistics by airport, rather than presenting a live feed. The federal source reports scheduled and actual times, cancellations, diversions, and airport- and airline-level statistics.

For definitions, sample rules, and limitations, read FlightRecord’s full methodology. Historical performance does not guarantee that a future flight will be on time.

Frequently asked questions

Which Los Angeles airport had the fewest delayed departures?

Ontario had the highest published on-time departure rate in this four-airport comparison: 83.2% across 52,463 departures from June 2024 through May 2026. A higher historical rate does not guarantee an individual flight will be on time, and Ontario serves fewer destinations than LAX.

Is Burbank more reliable than LAX?

Burbank and LAX were tied at 81.9% on-time departures in FlightRecord’s data. Burbank’s average departure delay was lower, at 12.6 minutes versus 13.7 minutes at LAX. The tie means airport convenience, nonstop availability, and the exact departure time are important tie-breakers.

Is Orange County Airport more reliable than LAX?

Orange County recorded 81.7% on-time departures, compared with 81.9% at LAX, in the same 24-month period. That is a narrow historical difference. Orange County may still be the better practical choice when it has the right nonstop flight or is significantly easier to reach.

Does this comparison include live airport delays?

No. This guide compares historical departure performance from June 2024 through May 2026. It is not a live flight-status service. Check the airline and FAA on the day of travel for operational conditions affecting a specific flight.