Denver (DEN) to Sacramento (SMF): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The calendar drives reliability on DEN–SMF. September 2024 flights landed on schedule 88% of the time, but June 2026 dropped to 59% — a gap of 29 points. Across the full period the route averages 75% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (87% vs 60%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 75%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 15 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.4%
- Flights/day
- 11
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 35m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 909 mi
Best airline from DEN to SMF
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier Airlinesmost reliable | 82% | 11 min | 0.5% | 387 |
| United Airlines | 81% | 13 min | 0.4% | 3,864 |
| Southwest Airlines | 68% | 19 min | 0.3% | 4,016 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DEN to SMF
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (98% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (50%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 75% | 15 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 78% | 15 min |
| Wednesday | 77% | 14 min |
| Thursday | 72% | 16 min |
| Friday | 73% | 17 min |
| Saturday | 75% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 73% | 15 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft56%
- Airline operations33%
- National airspace system10%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DEN to SMF delayed?
- 25% of DEN–SMF 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 15 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DEN to SMF?
- Frontier Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 82%, based on 387 flights. 3 airlines flew DEN–SMF frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DEN to SMF?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (98% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (50%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DEN to SMF?
- The scheduled DEN–SMF flight time averages 2h 35m over 909 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 25% of the time.
- How often are DEN to SMF flights cancelled?
- 0.4% 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 DEN to SMF?
- June 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 59% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 88%. If your dates are flexible, that 29-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 8,268 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.