Most On-Time U.S. Airport and Airlines Will Shock Hawaii Travelers

It may come as a surprise—especially to those who’ve trudged across terminals or been stuck waiting for hours—but Honolulu just topped the list as the most on-time major airport in the United States. According to Cirium’s newly released April 2025 report attached below, nearly 89% of flights at HNL arrived or departed on schedule, outperforming famously efficient hubs like Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, and Phoenix.

Cirium is a respected aviation analytics firm that tracks real-time and historical flight performance data worldwide, including on-time arrival rates, cancellations, and operational trends across airlines and airports.

Honolulu is the same airport where travelers frequently report long walks without moving walkways, broken trams, outdated restrooms, limited food options, and a general sense of disrepair. It’s also the same airport where one reader said, “The aloha disappears the minute you land.”

Yet when it comes to punctuality, HNL somehow delivered. Why?

Why is Honolulu so on time?

There’s no denying it—Honolulu benefits from geography and weather. And this report doesn’t care about facilities or airport gardens, it’s only about on time departure performance.

With consistent trade winds and almost no snow or ice, HNL avoids the delays that regularly disrupt mainland hubs. Its Pacific location also gives HNL an operational advantage: flights are more spread out over the day rather than clustered in overlapping arrival waves, which helps reduce congestion on the runways and at gates.

But as readers remind us, on-time performance doesn’t mean the airport experience is pleasant. Mark told us, “Getting off an international flight at Gate C8 and walking nearly three-quarters of a mile to Immigration is brutal.”

Airlines ranked too, with implications for Hawaii.

Cirium’s report didn’t stop with airports. Delta topped the list among U.S. carriers with an 85.1% on-time performance in April, followed by United and Alaska. These rankings carry weight for travelers heading to or from Hawaii.

Alaska’s third-place finish at 81.4% is particularly notable given its expanding presence in Hawaii travel following its purchase of Hawaiian Airlines. Once the integration is complete, flights under both brands will be evaluated together, and punctuality will be among the key issues as operational changes unfold.

Hawaiian Airlines was absent from Cirium’s North America regional ranking. Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines—still a major force in Hawaii travel—placed in the middle of the pack among U.S. carriers.

Travelers react: On-time means less when everything else is broken.

When we last reported on Honolulu Airport’s infrastructure woes, reader comments poured in. The common thread: you might arrive on time, but the experience leaves much to be desired.

James, who worked at the airport for six years, described it bluntly: “Most all projects and plans of improvement will follow the same path as a California speed rail project. Not… ever… gonna… happen.”

GK, a disabled traveler, recounted the challenge of navigating HNL’s inspection requirements with a service dog: “It’s ridiculous that this office is outside of security… such a task to get a flight from the Midwest to Honolulu to a neighboring island with enough layover for this process all before 4:00 p.m.”

And Carl summed up what many seem to feel: “Pipe dreams for expansion and greed.”

From world-class weather-based performance to third-world facilities.

There’s no denying the contradiction. Flights at Honolulu often run on time—yet the airport itself feels trapped in another era. That paradox is precisely what makes the Cirium ranking so jarring. HNL’s reliable weather, runway setup, and staggered flight schedules help it excel in punctuality, but none of that translates into a quality experience on the ground.

Leilani shared the one thing she still appreciates: “I love the gardens. They remind me of why I’m here, even if the rest of the airport feels so very dated.”

Others were less generous. Susan said, “I came in on a red-eye. Between the walk, the lack of signs, and zero food options open, it felt like I was in a time warp.”

That contrast between operational efficiency and traveler experience is why so many Hawaii visitors find HNL infuriating—and why this new ranking will be met with disbelief.

Where does Honolulu go from here?

Despite spending billions on upgrades, HNL continues to frustrate. How could the biggest airport in a state totally reliant on tourism be so sub-standard, many ask. Readers blame politics, corruption, or the lack of an independent airport authority.

Shannon, a 40-year airport employee, pointed the finger at state leadership and vendors: “Nan Construction is the only one sucking the airport dry… the mentality running and planning the airport? Well, look at our rail. Nuff said.”

There’s also confusion about unfinished or forgotten upgrades. Trace asked, “What happened to the plan to rebuild C and G gates? There’s a picture of this plan still hanging on the wall.”

And Karen, who uses a wheelchair, said the current setup leaves her stranded: “I’ve been abandoned… I’ve had to flag someone down for help. Not much Aloha spirit.”

What travelers should take away.

Yes, your flight is highly likely to land or depart on time. But your experience at HNL may still fall short in nearly every other way. As Roland told us after flying in from Japan: “There was no recorded announcement in Japanese… I could see the confusion on our fellow passengers’ faces. No Aloha.”

Still, some incremental improvements are happening. A new rental car facility has received praise, and the newer Hawaiian terminal wing has more restrooms and a brighter design. But many readers feel these isolated upgrades don’t fix the bigger problems—accessibility, layout, transparency, and the overall traveler experience.

Until that changes, Honolulu may continue to top punctuality charts while failing to deliver a welcoming gateway to paradise.

Bottom line for Hawaii-bound travelers.

If you’re heading to Hawaii soon, you might appreciate that your flight is almost surely going to be on time. But be prepared for the disjointed and often outdated infrastructure that awaits at HNL.

As one commenter summed up: “You arrive in paradise, but the airport says otherwise.”

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