Los Angeles (LAX) to Kansas City (MCI): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Los Angeles (LAX) to Kansas City (MCI) effectively runs on two schedules. In March 2025, 93% of arrivals were on time; in July 2024 that fell to 74% — a 19-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 84% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (89% vs 74%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 84%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 11 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Flights/day
- 3.4
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 13m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,363 mi
Best airline from LAX to MCI
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 87% | 10 min | 1.0% | 1,007 |
| Spirit Airlines | 84% | 12 min | 1.2% | 405 |
| Southwest Airlines | 82% | 11 min | 0.8% | 923 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from LAX to MCI
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (97% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (61%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 84% | 13 min |
| Tuesday | 86% | 10 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 89% | 7 min |
| Thursday | 84% | 10 min |
| Friday | 80% | 12 min |
| Saturday | 88% | 8 min |
| Sunday | 81% | 14 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft45%
- Airline operations43%
- National airspace system11%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from LAX to MCI delayed?
- 16% of LAX–MCI 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 11 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from LAX to MCI?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 87%, based on 1,007 flights. 3 airlines flew LAX–MCI frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from LAX to MCI?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (97% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (61%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from LAX to MCI?
- The scheduled LAX–MCI flight time averages 3h 13m over 1,363 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 16% of the time.
- How often are LAX to MCI flights cancelled?
- 0.9% 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 LAX to MCI?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 74% of arrivals on time. The best was March 2025 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 19-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,390 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.