Los Angeles (LAX) to Oakland (OAK): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Los Angeles (LAX) to Oakland (OAK) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 93% of arrivals were on time; in May 2026 that fell to 71% — a 21-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 85% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (93% vs 76%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 85%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 9 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.7%
- Flights/day
- 5.8
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 24m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 337 mi
Best airline from LAX to OAK
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlinesmost reliable | 85% | 8 min | 0.7% | 4,557 |
| Spirit Airlines | 78% | 16 min | 0.4% | 277 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from LAX to OAK
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (97% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (57%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 85% | 9 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 90% | 6 min |
| Wednesday | 89% | 7 min |
| Thursday | 83% | 10 min |
| Friday | 80% | 11 min |
| Saturday | 89% | 6 min |
| Sunday | 81% | 10 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft67%
- Airline operations27%
- National airspace system5%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from LAX to OAK delayed?
- 15% of LAX–OAK 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 9 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from LAX to OAK?
- Southwest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 85%, based on 4,557 flights. 2 airlines flew LAX–OAK frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from LAX to OAK?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (97% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (57%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from LAX to OAK?
- The scheduled LAX–OAK flight time averages 1h 24m over 337 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 15% of the time.
- How often are LAX to OAK flights cancelled?
- 0.7% 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 OAK?
- May 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 71% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 21-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,834 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.