Hawaii Flights: Who’s Running Late, Who’s On Time And Why?

Nothing ruins the start of a Hawaii vacation like a flight delay. Whether a long-haul trip from the mainland or a quick interisland hop, getting stuck at the gate can throw off everything—from missed connections to lost beach time. Some airlines make it easy to keep flights on schedule, while others struggle to get you where you need to be.

Here’s who’s running late, who’s on time, and why it matters more than ever.

Alaska Airlines’ strong record and what it means for Hawaii.

Among the top-performing airlines in North America, Alaska Airlines ranked near the top for on-time arrivals last year. With a relatively impressive 79.25% of flights arriving as scheduled, it has positioned itself as one of the most reliable carriers.

Why does this matter for Hawaii? Alaska’s takeover of Hawaiian Airlines is expected to be finalized into a single operating certificate later this year, and its operational discipline could help improve Hawaiian’s performance. Hawaiian Airlines has historically been considered a regional airline in on-time performance rankings, but once it is fully merged into Alaska’s system, those numbers will be assessed differently.

Alaska and Hawaiian’s strengths include fewer delays due to winter storms (compared to airlines operating further east) and a streamlined operation focusing heavily on the West Coast. Hawaiian Airlines, which has faced criticism for operational hiccups in the past, could benefit from Alaska’s tighter focus on scheduling and efficiency.

New details on who does better with on-time within Hawaii?

We cannot validate the leader since Southwest and Hawaiian do not report on-time interisland as a separate category. Both airlines believe they are in the top position.

Southwest told us recently that they now keep one plane based in Hawaii as a backup if needed. That is in order to keep flights running on-time with their unusual system of rotating flights between the mainland and Hawaii without a separate base or fleet here in the islands.

This could challenge the long-held belief that Hawaiian Airlines dominates interisland reliability. Will that change Southwest’s ability to capture a loyal customer base with its free bags, and despite its soon to be changing, seat-first, no-assigned-seat model.

What’s clear from public data is that Southwest’s overall system-wide on-time performance ranks just behind Alaska, coming in at 77.77%. While not at the top, it may suggest their Hawaii operations are generally strong. If Southwest truly outperforms Hawaiian interisland in OTP, it could serve to help them in the local travel landscape further. That despite Southwest’s plans to operate fewer interisland flights starting later this year.

Hawaiian Airlines and its evolving place in on-time rankings.

Hawaiian Airlines’ overall on-time performance is harder to track now because it’s still categorized separately as a regional carrier whose data isn’t in the study. This will change once Alaska absorbs it within its own rankings, and future reports will likely include Hawaiian’s flights.

Historically, Hawaiian Airlines boasted strong on-time performance on mainland routes, assisted by short, weather-free interisland flights. However, more recent operational disruptions—including flight cancellations due to Hawaii runway repairs, maintenance issues, and aircraft shortages—have led to passenger complaints. As the integration progresses, travelers will watch to see if Hawaiian Airlines’ reliability improves under Alaska’s oversight.

Why did no Hawaii airports make the top on-time list?

Unlike some of the best-ranked airports in the U.S., no Hawaii airports appeared in the latest on-time performance rankings. That could be due to several factors, including runway congestion, weather disruptions, and flight dependency on mainland schedules.

Honolulu International (HNL) and Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG) have faced increasing issues, leading to more delays. While Hawaii generally has favorable flying conditions, winter storms—like those seen recently—and strong winds can occasionally cause disruptions. Another challenge is that most flights to Hawaii originate from distant locations, meaning delays at departure airports often create a ripple effect.

This makes planning for potential delays even more important for travelers, especially when connecting via interisland flights. Leaving a buffer between flights remains key to avoiding missed connections.

Meanwhile, among the major airlines flying to Hawaii, Delta Air Lines led North America in on-time performance at 83.46 percent, followed by United Airlines at 80.93 percent. Alaska Airlines ranked third at 79.25 percent, ahead of American Airlines at 77.78 percent and Southwest Airlines at 77.77 percent. While Hawaiian Airlines’ future ranking remains uncertain, its absorption into Alaska’s system could impact where it ultimately stands about these airlines.

The bottom line: Which airlines are running late, and who’s on time?

The latest on-time performance data suggests that Delta and United lead North America, with Alaska, American, and Southwest following behind. Hawaiian Airlines’ future ranking remains uncertain as it transitions into the Alaska system. Still, Southwest’s claim of interisland dominance adds an interesting wrinkle—even though public data doesn’t support or refute it.

Meanwhile, Hawaii’s airports continue to face operational challenges, which could further impact schedules regardless of which airline travelers choose.

For travelers, this means selecting flights carefully, mainly if timing is critical. As changes unfold with the Hawaiian-Alaska merger and competition with Southwest, Delta, United, and American continues, on-time performance remains a key factor in planning Hawaii travel.

Why on-time performance matters for Hawaii travelers.

Punctuality isn’t beyond a convenience for travelers to and from Hawaii—it’s critical, and here’s why. Many Hawaii-bound flights are long-haul and are via connections either on the mainland or in Hawaii, meaning delays can lead to missed flights, especially for those transiting.

For island hoppers and residents, interisland flights are often tightly scheduled around work, medical appointments, or even same-day returns. A late flight can easily throw off an entire trip. BOH editors have had this happen countless times, and many others have reported similar experiences.

Even more critical are the red-eye flights now dominating schedules from Hawaii to the mainland. If those leave late, travelers risk missing connections to East Coast cities or international destinations. While some airlines consistently deliver on-time flights, others fall behind, and the latest data sheds light on who’s performing best.

What’s your take on the 2024 data? You can read the full report below.

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