Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field (SMX): Delays & On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field (SMX) in Santa Maria, CA is a middle-of-the-pack performer: 79% of departures are on time, within a few points of the national 78%. It hosts 2 airlines flying 1 departures a day to 2 destinations, with cancellations at 1%.
- Departures on-time
- 79%
- left <15 min late
- Avg dep delay
- 26 min
- Arrivals on-time
- 82%
- Cancelled
- 1.0%
- Destinations
- 2
- nonstop
- Airlines
- 2
Plan your departure from SMX
The choices most likely to improve your odds, based on this airport’s historical record.
- Best day to fly
- Tuesday
- 87% on-time
- Cancellation risk
- 1.0%
- below the US average
Monthly on-time trend
Best time of day to depart from SMX
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 78% | 38 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 87% | 13 min |
| Wednesday | 83% | 16 min |
| Thursday | 72% | 25 min |
| Friday | 83% | 30 min |
| Saturday | 86% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 76% | 33 min |
Busiest routes from SMX
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMX → PHX (Phoenix) | 405 | 84% | 22 min |
| SMX → LAS (Las Vegas) | 104 | 68% | 32 min |
Where flights into SMX come from
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHX (Phoenix) → SMX | 405 | 84% | 18 min |
| LAS (Las Vegas) → SMX | 104 | 77% | 16 min |
What causes delays at SMX
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT, weighted across routes departing SMX.
- Late-arriving aircraft34%
- Airline operations41%
- National airspace system8%
- Weather16%
Alternative airports near Santa Maria
Other airports within 120 miles, compared on departure reliability.
| Airport | Distance | On-time departures | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBP — San Luis County Regional Airport | 26 mi | 82% | 19 min |
| SBA — Santa Barbara Municipal Airport | 48 mi | 83% | 15 min |
| BFL — Meadows Field | 87 mi | 86% | 14 min |
Compare the airport-level record first, then check the exact route you plan to book.
Airline performance at SMX
| Airline | On-time departures | Avg delay | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| SkyWest Airlines | 84% | 24 min | 405 |
| Allegiant Air | 70% | 31 min | 218 |
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights delayed at SMX?
- 21% of departures from Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field left 15+ minutes late between 2024-07 and 2026-07, with an average departure delay of 26 minutes. The national on-time average over the same period was 78%.
- How often are flights cancelled at SMX?
- 1% of scheduled departures from SMX were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.
Popular route pages from this airport
Related guides
Based on 623 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.