Baltimore (BWI) to Sacramento (SMF): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Baltimore (BWI) to Sacramento (SMF) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 364 departures over the past year, roughly 7 a week — so treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. Of the flights that did operate, 62% arrived on time, noticeably below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 62%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 21 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.6%
- Flights/day
- 1.00
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 47m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,395 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from BWI to SMF
Aim for departures around 3 p.m. (81% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (39%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 56% | 29 min |
| Tuesday | 65% | 18 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 66% | 22 min |
| Thursday | 61% | 19 min |
| Friday | 64% | 21 min |
| Saturday | 64% | 18 min |
| Sunday | 59% | 22 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft30%
- Airline operations38%
- National airspace system26%
- Weather7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from BWI to SMF delayed?
- 38% of BWI–SMF flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 21 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from BWI to SMF?
- Departures around 3 p.m. have the best record (81% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (39%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from BWI to SMF?
- The scheduled BWI–SMF flight time averages 5h 47m over 2,395 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 38% of the time.
- How often are BWI to SMF flights cancelled?
- 0.6% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from BWI to SMF?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 45% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2025 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 42-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
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Based on 493 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.