Portland (PDX) to Los Angeles (LAX): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Portland (PDX) to Los Angeles (LAX) is one of the more dependable pairings in US skies: 88% of arrivals are on time, 10 points clear of the national average, and the typical flight that does run late is only 9 minutes behind. Cancellations are rare at 0.8%.
- On-time
- 88%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 9 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.8%
- Flights/day
- 12
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 29m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 833 mi
Best airline from PDX to LAX
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 91% | 8 min | 0.7% | 3,350 |
| Alaska Airlines | 87% | 7 min | 1.0% | 3,965 |
| Frontier Airlines | 85% | 10 min | 2.3% | 352 |
| Spirit Airlines | 85% | 11 min | 2.7% | 111 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 85% | 18 min | 0.2% | 1,283 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from PDX to LAX
Aim for departures around 11 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (80%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 88% | 8 min |
| Tuesday | 90% | 8 min |
| Wednesday | 90% | 8 min |
| Thursday | 87% | 11 min |
| Friday | 86% | 10 min |
| Saturdaybest | 91% | 8 min |
| Sunday | 86% | 12 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft40%
- Airline operations49%
- National airspace system9%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from PDX to LAX delayed?
- 12% of PDX–LAX 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 PDX to LAX?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 91%, based on 3,350 flights. 5 airlines flew PDX–LAX frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from PDX to LAX?
- Departures around 11 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (80%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from PDX to LAX?
- The scheduled PDX–LAX flight time averages 2h 29m over 833 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 12% of the time.
- How often are PDX to LAX flights cancelled?
- 0.8% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What day of the week is most reliable for PDX to LAX?
- Saturday flights have the best record at 91% on-time. Day-of-week differences on this route are modest.
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Based on 9,061 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.