Honolulu (HNL) to Kona (KOA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Honolulu (HNL) to Kona (KOA) effectively runs on two schedules. In September 2025, 95% of arrivals were on time; in March 2026 that fell to 79% — a 16-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 89% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 89%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 6 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.0%
- Flights/day
- 20
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 49m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 163 mi
Best airline from HNL to KOA
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlinesmost reliable | 93% | 4 min | 0.7% | 3,881 |
| Hawaiian Airlines | 89% | 6 min | 0.9% | 9,026 |
| Alaska Airlines | 81% | 10 min | 1.8% | 2,341 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from HNL to KOA
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (96% on-time); avoid 3 p.m. departures (79%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 90% | 5 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 90% | 5 min |
| Wednesday | 90% | 5 min |
| Thursday | 87% | 7 min |
| Friday | 85% | 9 min |
| Saturday | 88% | 6 min |
| Sunday | 90% | 5 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft38%
- Airline operations54%
- National airspace system4%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from HNL to KOA delayed?
- 12% of HNL–KOA 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 6 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from HNL to KOA?
- Southwest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 93%, based on 3,881 flights. 3 airlines flew HNL–KOA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from HNL to KOA?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (96% on-time), while departures around 3 p.m. have the worst (79%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from HNL to KOA?
- The scheduled HNL–KOA flight time averages 49m over 163 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 12% of the time.
- How often are HNL to KOA flights cancelled?
- 1% 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 HNL to KOA?
- March 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 79% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2025 at 95%. If your dates are flexible, that 16-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 15,248 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.