Los Angeles (LAX) to St. Louis (STL): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Los Angeles (LAX) to St. Louis (STL) effectively runs on two schedules. In May 2025, 91% of arrivals were on time; in March 2026 that fell to 66% — a 25-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 80% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (92% vs 75%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 80%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 12 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.7%
- Flights/day
- 2.8
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 37m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,592 mi
Best airline from LAX to STL
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlinesmost reliable | 81% | 11 min | 0.5% | 1,394 |
| American Airlines | 78% | 18 min | 1.8% | 334 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 77% | 15 min | 0.6% | 351 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from LAX to STL
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (97% on-time); avoid 1 p.m. departures (63%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 76% | 16 min |
| Tuesday | 83% | 12 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 85% | 9 min |
| Thursday | 79% | 13 min |
| Friday | 77% | 15 min |
| Saturday | 82% | 9 min |
| Sunday | 80% | 13 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft55%
- Airline operations35%
- National airspace system10%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from LAX to STL delayed?
- 20% of LAX–STL 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 12 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from LAX to STL?
- Southwest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 81%, based on 1,394 flights. 3 airlines flew LAX–STL frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from LAX to STL?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (97% on-time), while departures around 1 p.m. have the worst (63%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from LAX to STL?
- The scheduled LAX–STL flight time averages 3h 37m over 1,592 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 20% of the time.
- How often are LAX to STL 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 STL?
- March 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 66% of arrivals on time. The best was May 2025 at 91%. If your dates are flexible, that 25-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,079 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.