Cleveland (CLE) to San Francisco (SFO): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Cleveland (CLE) to San Francisco (SFO) effectively runs on two schedules. In March 2026, 97% of arrivals were on time; in June 2026 that fell to 69% — a 28-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 (92% vs 79%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 87%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 9 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.2%
- Flights/day
- 1.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 23m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,161 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from CLE to SFO
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (100% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (77%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 87% | 11 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 91% | 7 min |
| Wednesday | 89% | 9 min |
| Thursday | 85% | 12 min |
| Friday | 85% | 10 min |
| Saturday | 90% | 7 min |
| Sunday | 87% | 8 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft14%
- Airline operations24%
- National airspace system59%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from CLE to SFO delayed?
- 13% of CLE–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 9 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from CLE to SFO?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (100% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (77%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from CLE to SFO?
- The scheduled CLE–SFO flight time averages 5h 23m over 2,161 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 13% of the time.
- How often are CLE to SFO flights cancelled?
- 0.2% 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 CLE to SFO?
- June 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 69% of arrivals on time. The best was March 2026 at 97%. If your dates are flexible, that 28-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,211 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.