Baltimore (BWI) to Los Angeles (LAX): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Baltimore (BWI) to Los Angeles (LAX) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2025, 89% of arrivals were on time; in July 2024 that fell to 58% — a 32-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 77% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (90% vs 68%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 77%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.2%
- Flights/day
- 4.8
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 44m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,329 mi
Best airline from BWI to LAX
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 87% | 11 min | 1.0% | 1,146 |
| Spirit Airlines | 79% | 16 min | 2.4% | 547 |
| Southwest Airlines | 70% | 16 min | 1.0% | 1,832 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from BWI to LAX
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (96% on-time); avoid 10 p.m. departures (40%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 78% | 13 min |
| Tuesday | 79% | 11 min |
| Wednesday | 76% | 15 min |
| Thursday | 78% | 15 min |
| Friday | 73% | 16 min |
| Saturdaybest | 80% | 13 min |
| Sunday | 74% | 16 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft37%
- Airline operations38%
- National airspace system21%
- Weather4%
- Security1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from BWI to LAX delayed?
- 23% of BWI–LAX flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 14 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from BWI to LAX?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 87%, based on 1,146 flights. 3 airlines flew BWI–LAX frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from BWI to LAX?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (96% on-time), while departures around 10 p.m. have the worst (40%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from BWI to LAX?
- The scheduled BWI–LAX flight time averages 5h 44m over 2,329 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 23% of the time.
- How often are BWI to LAX flights cancelled?
- 1.2% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from BWI to LAX?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 58% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 32-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,525 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.