San Diego International Airport (SAN): Delays & On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
San Diego International Airport (SAN) in San Diego, CA is a middle-of-the-pack performer: 77% of departures are on time, within a few points of the national 78%. It hosts 11 airlines flying 272 departures a day to 73 destinations, with cancellations at 1.1%.
- Departures on-time
- 77%
- left <15 min late
- Avg dep delay
- 16 min
- Arrivals on-time
- 75%
- Cancelled
- 1.1%
- Destinations
- 73
- nonstop
- Airlines
- 11
Plan your departure from SAN
The choices most likely to improve your odds, based on this airport’s historical record.
- Best departure time
- Around 6 a.m.
- 94% on-time
- Best day to fly
- Tuesday
- 84% on-time
- Cancellation risk
- 1.1%
- below the US average
Monthly on-time trend
Best time of day to depart from SAN
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 76% | 16 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 84% | 10 min |
| Wednesday | 82% | 12 min |
| Thursday | 74% | 19 min |
| Friday | 71% | 21 min |
| Saturday | 82% | 12 min |
| Sunday | 73% | 17 min |
Busiest routes from SAN
Where flights into SAN come from
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| SFO (San Francisco) → SAN | 6,524 | 71% | 18 min |
| LAS (Las Vegas) → SAN | 6,131 | 68% | 20 min |
| DEN (Denver) → SAN | 5,882 | 76% | 15 min |
| PHX (Phoenix) → SAN | 5,868 | 76% | 15 min |
| SMF (Sacramento) → SAN | 5,182 | 75% | 15 min |
| SJC (San Jose) → SAN | 4,990 | 75% | 14 min |
| SEA (Seattle) → SAN | 4,575 | 78% | 12 min |
| ORD (Chicago) → SAN | 3,742 | 74% | 20 min |
What causes delays at SAN
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT, weighted across routes departing SAN.
- Late-arriving aircraft47%
- Airline operations25%
- National airspace system23%
- Weather5%
Alternative airports near San Diego
Other airports within 120 miles, compared on departure reliability.
| Airport | Distance | On-time departures | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLD — McClellan-Palomar Airport | 28 mi | 88% | 10 min |
| SNA — John Wayne Orange County International Airport | 76 mi | 82% | 14 min |
| PSP — Palm Springs International Airport | 85 mi | 83% | 14 min |
| LGB — Long Beach International Airport | 93 mi | 84% | 10 min |
| ONT — Ontario International Airport | 94 mi | 83% | 12 min |
Compare the airport-level record first, then check the exact route you plan to book.
Airline performance at SAN
| Airline | On-time departures | Avg delay | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 86% | 12 min | 20,803 |
| Delta Air Lines | 85% | 13 min | 19,151 |
| American Airlines | 81% | 21 min | 18,685 |
| Alaska Airlines | 80% | 13 min | 23,013 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 79% | 14 min | 28,499 |
| Spirit Airlines | 78% | 17 min | 3,286 |
| JetBlue Airways | 76% | 22 min | 3,288 |
| Hawaiian Airlines | 73% | 24 min | 1,293 |
| Frontier Airlines | 71% | 27 min | 5,410 |
| Southwest Airlines | 71% | 16 min | 71,532 |
| Allegiant Air | 60% | 28 min | 269 |
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights delayed at SAN?
- 23% of departures from San Diego International Airport left 15+ minutes late between 2024-06 and 2026-05, with an average departure delay of 16 minutes. The national on-time average over the same period was 78%.
- What is the best time of day to depart from SAN?
- Flights scheduled around 6 a.m. depart on time 94% of the time at SAN, versus 67% around 7 p.m.. Booking before noon is the usual rule of thumb here.
- What is the worst month for delays at SAN?
- In this dataset, December 2025 was the weakest month at SAN, with 71% of departures on time.
- How often are flights cancelled at SAN?
- 1.1% of scheduled departures from SAN were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.
Popular route pages from this airport
Related guides
Based on 195,229 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.