Burbank (BUR) to Sacramento (SMF): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Burbank (BUR) to Sacramento (SMF) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2026, 95% of arrivals were on time; in October 2025 that fell to 78% — a 17-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 87% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (94% vs 81%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 87%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 8 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.5%
- Flights/day
- 7.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 25m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 358 mi
Best airline from BUR to SMF
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlinesmost reliable | 87% | 8 min | 1.5% | 5,552 |
| Spirit Airlines | 74% | 26 min | 0.0% | 119 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from BUR to SMF
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (97% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (76%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 85% | 9 min |
| Tuesday | 92% | 5 min |
| Wednesday | 91% | 5 min |
| Thursday | 86% | 8 min |
| Friday | 83% | 12 min |
| Saturdaybest | 92% | 4 min |
| Sunday | 82% | 10 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft74%
- Airline operations17%
- National airspace system8%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from BUR to SMF delayed?
- 13% of BUR–SMF flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-07 and 2026-07. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 8 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from BUR to SMF?
- Southwest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 87%, based on 5,552 flights. 2 airlines flew BUR–SMF frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from BUR to SMF?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (97% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (76%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from BUR to SMF?
- The scheduled BUR–SMF flight time averages 1h 25m over 358 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 13% of the time.
- How often are BUR to SMF flights cancelled?
- 1.5% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from BUR to SMF?
- October 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 78% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2026 at 95%. If your dates are flexible, that 17-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 5,671 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.