Charlotte (CLT) to San Francisco (SFO): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Charlotte (CLT) to San Francisco (SFO) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2025, 87% of arrivals were on time; in July 2024 that fell to 48% — a 39-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 69% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (83% vs 59%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 69%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 20 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.2%
- Flights/day
- 4.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 41m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,296 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from CLT to SFO
Aim for departures around 10 a.m. (89% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (56%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 67% | 20 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 76% | 15 min |
| Wednesday | 72% | 15 min |
| Thursday | 63% | 21 min |
| Friday | 69% | 17 min |
| Saturday | 70% | 20 min |
| Sunday | 63% | 30 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft40%
- Airline operations31%
- National airspace system20%
- Weather8%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from CLT to SFO delayed?
- 32% of CLT–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 20 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from CLT to SFO?
- Departures around 10 a.m. have the best record (89% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (56%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from CLT to SFO?
- The scheduled CLT–SFO flight time averages 5h 41m over 2,296 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 32% of the time.
- How often are CLT to SFO flights cancelled?
- 1.2% 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 CLT to SFO?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 48% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 39-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,178 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.