Cleveland (CLE) to Los Angeles (LAX): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Cleveland (CLE) to Los Angeles (LAX) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2025, 100% of arrivals were on time; in February 2025 that fell to 75% — a 26-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 87% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (90% vs 76%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 87%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 8 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.4%
- Flights/day
- 1.9
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 6m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,052 mi
Best airline from CLE to LAX
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 89% | 7 min | 0.1% | 1,264 |
| Spirit Airlines | 67% | 18 min | 5.7% | 87 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from CLE to LAX
Aim for departures around 2 p.m. (96% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (71%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Mondaybest | 91% | 4 min |
| Tuesday | 86% | 9 min |
| Wednesday | 89% | 7 min |
| Thursday | 88% | 6 min |
| Friday | 86% | 12 min |
| Saturday | 82% | 10 min |
| Sunday | 86% | 8 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft36%
- Airline operations32%
- National airspace system30%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from CLE to LAX delayed?
- 13% of CLE–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 8 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from CLE to LAX?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 89%, based on 1,264 flights. 2 airlines flew CLE–LAX frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from CLE to LAX?
- Departures around 2 p.m. have the best record (96% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (71%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from CLE to LAX?
- The scheduled CLE–LAX flight time averages 5h 6m over 2,052 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 13% of the time.
- How often are CLE to LAX flights cancelled?
- 0.4% 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 CLE to LAX?
- February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 75% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2025 at 100%. If your dates are flexible, that 26-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,406 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.