Cleveland (CLE) to Los Angeles (LAX): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Cleveland (CLE) to Los Angeles (LAX) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2025, 100% of arrivals were on time; in June 2026 that fell to 67% — a 33-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 86% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (89% vs 72%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 86%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 8 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.5%
- Flights/day
- 2.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 5m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,052 mi
Best airline from CLE to LAX
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 89% | 6 min | 0.1% | 1,329 |
| American Airlines | 61% | 24 min | 0.9% | 115 |
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 | 90% | 5 min |
| Tuesday | 85% | 8 min |
| Wednesday | 89% | 4 min |
| Thursday | 86% | 8 min |
| Friday | 84% | 12 min |
| Saturday | 82% | 11 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 aircraft34%
- Airline operations31%
- National airspace system33%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from CLE to LAX delayed?
- 14% of CLE–LAX flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-07 and 2026-07. 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 1,329 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 5m over 2,052 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 14% of the time.
- How often are CLE to LAX flights cancelled?
- 0.5% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from CLE to LAX?
- June 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 67% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2025 at 100%. If your dates are flexible, that 33-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,502 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.