Los Angeles (LAX) to New York (JFK): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly LAX to JFK matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 94% on-time in November 2024 to just 66% in July 2026. Across the full period the route averages 80% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 80%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.6%
- Flights/day
- 28
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 31m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,475 mi
Best airline from LAX to JFK
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JetBlue Airwaysmost reliable | 82% | 14 min | 1.8% | 7,185 |
| Delta Air Lines | 80% | 18 min | 1.4% | 7,095 |
| American Airlines | 79% | 24 min | 1.6% | 6,809 |
| Frontier Airlines | 73% | 20 min | 0.4% | 263 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from LAX to JFK
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 1 p.m. departures (70%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 80% | 19 min |
| Tuesday | 82% | 16 min |
| Wednesday | 80% | 18 min |
| Thursday | 80% | 19 min |
| Fridaybest | 82% | 17 min |
| Saturday | 80% | 18 min |
| Sunday | 77% | 22 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft35%
- Airline operations40%
- National airspace system25%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from LAX to JFK delayed?
- 20% of LAX–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 19 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from LAX to JFK?
- JetBlue Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 82%, based on 7,185 flights. 4 airlines flew LAX–JFK frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from LAX to JFK?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 1 p.m. have the worst (70%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from LAX to JFK?
- The scheduled LAX–JFK flight time averages 5h 31m over 2,475 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 20% of the time.
- How often are LAX to JFK flights cancelled?
- 1.6% 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 LAX to JFK?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 66% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 94%. If your dates are flexible, that 29-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 21,352 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.