Cleveland (CLE) to San Francisco (SFO): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Cleveland (CLE) to San Francisco (SFO) effectively runs on two schedules. In March 2026, 97% of arrivals were on time; in January 2026 that fell to 72% — a 25-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 89% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (92% vs 81%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 89%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 8 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.2%
- Flights/day
- 1.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 24m
- 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 (81%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 90% | 9 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 93% | 6 min |
| Wednesday | 90% | 8 min |
| Thursday | 88% | 9 min |
| Friday | 86% | 10 min |
| Saturday | 90% | 7 min |
| Sunday | 86% | 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 aircraft16%
- Airline operations25%
- National airspace system55%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from CLE to SFO delayed?
- 11% of CLE–SFO 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 8 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 (81%). 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 24m over 2,161 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 11% of the time.
- How often are CLE to SFO flights cancelled?
- 0.2% 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 CLE to SFO?
- January 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 72% of arrivals on time. The best was March 2026 at 97%. If your dates are flexible, that 25-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,130 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.