New York (JFK) to Houston (IAH): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The calendar drives reliability on JFK–IAH. April 2026 flights landed on schedule 97% of the time, but July 2026 dropped to 53% — a gap of 44 points. Across the full period the route averages 75% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 75%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 17 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.1%
- Flights/day
- 1.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 4m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,417 mi
Best airline from JFK to IAH
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 83% | 12 min | 3.7% | 269 |
| JetBlue Airways | 70% | 20 min | 1.2% | 481 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from JFK to IAH
Aim for departures around 10 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 2 p.m. departures (49%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 78% | 12 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 81% | 15 min |
| Wednesday | 74% | 12 min |
| Thursday | 67% | 19 min |
| Friday | 74% | 18 min |
| Saturday | 72% | 24 min |
| Sunday | 77% | 19 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft17%
- Airline operations33%
- National airspace system38%
- Weather12%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from JFK to IAH delayed?
- 25% of JFK–IAH 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 17 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from JFK to IAH?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 83%, based on 269 flights. 2 airlines flew JFK–IAH frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from JFK to IAH?
- Departures around 10 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 2 p.m. have the worst (49%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from JFK to IAH?
- The scheduled JFK–IAH flight time averages 4h 4m over 1,417 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 25% of the time.
- How often are JFK to IAH flights cancelled?
- 2.1% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from JFK to IAH?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 53% of arrivals on time. The best was April 2026 at 97%. If your dates are flexible, that 44-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
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Related guides
Based on 750 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.