Houston (IAH) to New York (JFK): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Delays are only half the story on IAH–JFK: 3.6% of its scheduled flights were outright cancelled, well above the US norm, so a backup plan matters more here than on most routes. When flights do go, 69% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Delta Air Lines has been the safer pick, arriving on time 78% of the time.
- On-time
- 69%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 31 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.6%
- Flights/day
- 1.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 41m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,417 mi
Best airline from IAH to JFK
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 78% | 19 min | 4.1% | 269 |
| JetBlue Airways | 63% | 38 min | 3.3% | 481 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from IAH to JFK
Aim for departures around 12 p.m. (78% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (38%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 73% | 38 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 77% | 40 min |
| Wednesday | 67% | 30 min |
| Thursday | 60% | 30 min |
| Friday | 65% | 27 min |
| Saturday | 71% | 20 min |
| Sunday | 65% | 33 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 operations41%
- National airspace system22%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from IAH to JFK delayed?
- 32% of IAH–JFK 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 31 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from IAH to JFK?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 78%, based on 269 flights. 2 airlines flew IAH–JFK frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from IAH to JFK?
- Departures around 12 p.m. have the best record (78% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (38%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from IAH to JFK?
- The scheduled IAH–JFK flight time averages 3h 41m over 1,417 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 32% of the time.
- How often are IAH to JFK flights cancelled?
- 3.6% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07 — several times the typical US rate, so consider earlier departures or backup options.
- What is the worst month to fly from IAH to JFK?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 25% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2025 at 96%. If your dates are flexible, that 71-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 750 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.