Honolulu (HNL) to Los Angeles (LAX): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Honolulu (HNL) to Los Angeles (LAX) effectively runs on two schedules. In September 2025, 90% of arrivals were on time; in March 2026 that fell to 67% — a 23-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 82% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 82%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.6%
- Flights/day
- 15
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 29m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,556 mi
Best airline from HNL to LAX
6 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlinesmost reliable | 89% | 6 min | 0.4% | 976 |
| Delta Air Lines | 89% | 11 min | 0.8% | 2,190 |
| American Airlines | 87% | 17 min | 0.1% | 2,293 |
| United Airlines | 87% | 13 min | 0.7% | 2,546 |
| Hawaiian Airlines | 69% | 19 min | 0.6% | 2,008 |
| Alaska Airlines | 65% | 19 min | 0.6% | 934 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from HNL to LAX
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (60%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 81% | 13 min |
| Tuesday | 85% | 15 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 85% | 12 min |
| Thursday | 82% | 10 min |
| Friday | 81% | 16 min |
| Saturday | 83% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 81% | 18 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft26%
- Airline operations64%
- National airspace system8%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from HNL to LAX delayed?
- 18% of HNL–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 HNL to LAX?
- Southwest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 89%, based on 976 flights. 6 airlines flew HNL–LAX frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from HNL to LAX?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (60%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from HNL to LAX?
- The scheduled HNL–LAX flight time averages 5h 29m over 2,556 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 18% of the time.
- How often are HNL to LAX flights cancelled?
- 0.6% 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 LAX?
- March 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 67% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2025 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 23-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 10,947 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.