Baltimore (BWI) to San Francisco (SFO): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Baltimore (BWI) to San Francisco (SFO) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2025, 97% of arrivals were on time; in June 2026 that fell to 41% — a 56-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 75% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (88% vs 61%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 75%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 15 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Flights/day
- 2.9
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 60m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,457 mi
Best airline from BWI to SFO
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 81% | 12 min | 1.0% | 1,352 |
| Southwest Airlines | 56% | 26 min | 0.7% | 422 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from BWI to SFO
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (97% on-time); avoid 2 p.m. departures (31%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 75% | 14 min |
| Tuesday | 77% | 13 min |
| Wednesday | 72% | 19 min |
| Thursday | 74% | 16 min |
| Friday | 73% | 20 min |
| Saturdaybest | 82% | 9 min |
| Sunday | 73% | 14 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft32%
- Airline operations26%
- National airspace system35%
- Weather7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from BWI to SFO delayed?
- 25% of BWI–SFO 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 15 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from BWI to SFO?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 81%, based on 1,352 flights. 2 airlines flew BWI–SFO frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from BWI to SFO?
- Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (97% on-time), while departures around 2 p.m. have the worst (31%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from BWI to SFO?
- The scheduled BWI–SFO flight time averages 5h 60m over 2,457 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 25% of the time.
- How often are BWI to SFO flights cancelled?
- 0.9% 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 BWI to SFO?
- June 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 41% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 97%. If your dates are flexible, that 56-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,774 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.