73% of flights from New York to Los Angeles arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 10 a.m. departures ran on time 86% of the time; the 7 p.m. ones 61%. Most reliable airline: American Airlines (76%). 12% of flights arrived more than an hour late or not at all.
How late?
The on-time rate treats a flight 20 minutes late the same as one 5 hours late. Here's the split for JFK → LAX: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 52% of the time. About 1 in 11 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 46 three hours or more; 2.8% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early73%
- 15–30 min late8.2%
- 30–60 min late6.5%
- 1–2 hours late5.1%
- 2–3 hours late1.9%
- 3+ hours late2.2%
- Diverted0.1%
- Cancelled2.8%
Share of all 10,285 scheduled flights, past 12 months, by arrival time against schedule.
By airline
| Airline | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | 1h+ late | Avg when late | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JetBlue | 3,480 | 70% | 3.2% | −5 min | 10.7% | +73 min | JetBlue |
| Delta Air Lines | 3,366 | 73% | 2.5% | −6 min | 7.9% | +67 min | Delta Air Lines |
| American Airlines | 3,298 | 76% | 2.6% | −11 min | 9.0% | +96 min | American Airlines |
| Frontier Airlines | 141 | 69% | 2.1% | +2 min | 7.1% | +78 min | Frontier Airlines |
Airline = the name on the ticket. Regional flights (e.g. "Delta Connection") count under the ticketing airline, and the operator is listed.
Best time of day to fly
On-time rate by scheduled departure hour (local time at JFK). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | JetBlue | Delta Air Lines | American Airlines | Frontier Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 82% | — | 85% | — |
| 7 a.m. | 76% | 73% | 86% | — |
| 8 a.m. | 75% | 75% | — | — |
| 9 a.m. | 76% | 77% | 77% | — |
| 11 a.m. | 72% | 81% | 82% | 69% |
| noon | 82% | — | — | — |
| 1 p.m. | 67% | 77% | — | — |
| 2 p.m. | 73% | — | 73% | — |
| 3 p.m. | 65% | 71% | 74% | — |
| 4 p.m. | 64% | 70% | 79% | — |
| 5 p.m. | 68% | 69% | 72% | — |
| 6 p.m. | — | 68% | 71% | — |
| 7 p.m. | 49% | 68% | 65% | — |
| 8 p.m. | 61% | 64% | 70% | — |
| 9 p.m. | 52% | — | 66% | — |
Last flight of the day
On JFK → LAX, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 3.6% of the time, against 2.7% for its earlier flights (1.4× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 2.0% of the time (earlier flights: 2.2%). It matters more than the numbers suggest. Miss an earlier flight and there's another one that evening; miss the last one and you're usually waiting until morning.
| Airline | Last departure | Last: cancelled | Last: 3h+ late | Earlier: cancelled | Next morning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 9:30 p.m. | 3.3% | 2.7% | 2.5% | first flight 6:00 a.m. |
| JetBlue | 9:40 p.m. | 3.6% | 1.9% | 3.1% | first flight 6:00 a.m. |
| Delta Air Lines | 8:25 p.m. | 4.1% | 1.4% | 2.4% | first flight 7:00 a.m. |
Last flight = the airline's last scheduled departure on this route that day, on days it flies the route at least twice; past 12 months. Times are typical scheduled times over the latest three months.
If you need to be in LAX tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: March (86%). Worst: July (69%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 1,569 | 72% | 4.1% |
| Tuesday | 1,472 | 77% | 3.7% |
| Wednesday | 1,453 | 78% | 0.8% |
| Thursday | 1,517 | 73% | 1.7% |
| Friday | 1,523 | 76% | 2.2% |
| Saturday | 1,236 | 71% | 2.8% |
| Sunday | 1,515 | 65% | 4.1% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 168 · airline 68 · air traffic/airport 50
Month by month
Flight numbers on this route
Regular flights with at least 120 scheduled trips in the past year. Sorted by departure time.
| Flight | Departs | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA 171 | 6:00 a.m. | 363 | 86% | 2.2% | −14 min | American Airlines |
| B6 123 | 6:00 a.m. | 309 | 84% | 2.9% | −12 min | JetBlue |
| AA 1 | 7:00 a.m. | 349 | 84% | 1.7% | −12 min | American Airlines |
| DL 742 | 7:00 a.m. | 329 | 74% | 2.1% | −4 min | Delta Air Lines |
| B6 223 | 7:30 a.m. | 348 | 77% | 2.9% | −8 min | JetBlue |
| DL 713 | 8:35 a.m. | 345 | 73% | 1.7% | −2 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 773 | 9:00 a.m. | 363 | 78% | 0.8% | −4 min | Delta Air Lines |
| B6 523 | 9:20 a.m. | 317 | 78% | 3.8% | −8 min | JetBlue |
| AA 255 | 9:30 a.m. | 362 | 76% | 3.3% | −11 min | American Airlines |
| AA 3 | 11:00 a.m. | 358 | 83% | 2.0% | −13 min | American Airlines |
| B6 323 | 11:00 a.m. | 302 | 74% | 2.3% | −6 min | JetBlue |
| DL 767 | 11:00 a.m. | 341 | 82% | 1.8% | −10 min | Delta Air Lines |
| B6 423 | 1:00 p.m. | 341 | 68% | 2.6% | −5 min | JetBlue |
| DL 747 | 1:30 p.m. | 338 | 76% | 2.4% | −8 min | Delta Air Lines |
| B6 1523 | 3:15 p.m. | 134 | 63% | 3.7% | −1 min | JetBlue |
| AA 341 | 3:30 p.m. | 362 | 74% | 2.5% | −9 min | American Airlines |
| DL 738 | 3:40 p.m. | 365 | 71% | 2.7% | −7 min | Delta Air Lines |
| AA 306 | 4:30 p.m. | 356 | 77% | 3.1% | −12 min | American Airlines |
| DL 771 | 5:00 p.m. | 350 | 72% | 2.6% | −6 min | Delta Air Lines |
| AA 302 | 5:29 p.m. | 361 | 72% | 3.0% | −9 min | American Airlines |
| DL 353 | 6:00 p.m. | 280 | 68% | 3.2% | −3 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 707 | 7:45 p.m. | 339 | 68% | 4.7% | −4 min | Delta Air Lines |
| AA 117 | 8:00 p.m. | 363 | 67% | 2.8% | −4 min | American Airlines |
| DL 752 | 8:25 p.m. | 224 | 68% | 3.6% | −3 min | Delta Air Lines |
| AA 300 | 9:00 p.m. | 361 | 67% | 3.3% | −10 min | American Airlines |
| B6 1223 | 9:09 p.m. | 164 | 45% | 5.5% | +17 min | JetBlue |
| B6 823 | 9:29 p.m. | 206 | 57% | 5.8% | +4 min | JetBlue |
| B6 923 | 9:40 p.m. | 142 | 49% | 4.9% | +11 min | JetBlue |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 25, 2026 | 28 | 0% | 24 |
| Feb 23, 2026 | 27 | 0% | 27 |
| Dec 14, 2025 | 29 | 7% | 4 |
| Feb 24, 2026 | 26 | 8% | 15 |
| Dec 27, 2025 | 26 | 15% | 5 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of New York or Los Angeles. EWR → SNA has been 9 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| JFK → LAX (this route) | 10,285 | 73% | 2.8% |
| EWR → SNA Newark to Orange County John Wayne | 1,091 | 82% | 2.0% |
| JFK → SNA New York JFK to Orange County John Wayne | 493 | 80% | 2.4% |
| EWR → LAX Newark to Los Angeles LAX | 4,750 | 69% | 2.5% |
Questions
How often are flights from JFK to LAX on time?
73% of 10,285 scheduled flights from New York, NY to Los Angeles, CA arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 2.8% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly JFK to LAX?
Flights scheduled to leave at 10 a.m. were the most reliable (86% on time). The 7 p.m. departures were the least (61%).
Which airline is most on time from JFK to LAX?
American Airlines: 76% of its 3,298 flights on the route arrived on time. JetBlue: 70%. Delta Air Lines: 73%. Frontier Airlines: 69%.
What month has the most delays from JFK to LAX?
July (69% on time). The best month is March (86%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from JFK to LAX more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last JFK–LAX flight of the day was cancelled 3.6% of the time over the past year, against 2.7% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- LAX → JFK (return)
- New York JFK (JFK) delays by hour
- Flights into Los Angeles LAX (LAX)
- JetBlue on-time record
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- American Airlines on-time record
- Frontier Airlines on-time record
- Connecting off this flight? Check the risk
Domestic flights by the airlines that report to the U.S. DOT, plus their regional partners. "On time" means arriving less than 15 minutes after schedule; cancelled and diverted flights count as not on time. Past performance is a guide, not a forecast. Method.