I always get a chuckle when Hawaiʻi is ranked the best state for on-time flights. As Guy Hagi says, we have the best weather on the planet. No snowstorms, rare major weather events, and most long-haul flights only operate once a day. Once the plane gets here, it usually parks overnight and behaves itself.
The study found just 12.7% of flights to, from, and within Hawaiʻi were delayed or canceled between July 2024 and June 2025, best in the nation. Weather aside, that kind of consistency still takes coordination, so kudos to the airport teams and airline ops for keeping things moving. For contrast, the worst airport in the study was Orlando International, where a brutal 32.4% of flights were delayed or canceled. Turns out a lot of people may leave the “Happiest Place on Earth” only to finish their vacation somewhere far less cheerful. 😉
In other airline-related news, Southwest is giving Hilo its first nonstop to/from the continental U.S. in more than three years, launching Las Vegas to Hilo service on August 6, three times a week. Hilo hasn’t had a direct mainland flight since United ended its LAX service in early 2023, so this is a meaningful win for the Hilo side. That said, I have a feeling this route may see more locals in slippahs and board shorts trying their luck in Vegas than sun-starved tourists filling up Hilo hotels.
