Charlotte (CLT) to San Francisco (SFO): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Charlotte (CLT) to San Francisco (SFO) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2025, 87% of arrivals were on time; in June 2026 that fell to 35% — a 52-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 67% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (81% vs 57%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 67%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 21 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.1%
- 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. (91% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (53%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 65% | 21 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 75% | 15 min |
| Wednesday | 71% | 16 min |
| Thursday | 60% | 23 min |
| Friday | 68% | 17 min |
| Saturday | 69% | 22 min |
| Sunday | 61% | 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 aircraft41%
- Airline operations30%
- National airspace system22%
- Weather7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from CLT to SFO delayed?
- 33% of CLT–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 21 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from CLT to SFO?
- Departures around 10 a.m. have the best record (91% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (53%). 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 33% of the time.
- How often are CLT to SFO flights cancelled?
- 1.1% 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 CLT to SFO?
- June 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 35% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 52-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,319 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.