Detroit (DTW) to Sacramento (SMF): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Detroit (DTW) to Sacramento (SMF) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 260 departures over the past year, roughly 5 a week — so treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. Of the flights that did operate, 79% arrived on time.
- On-time
- 79%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.5%
- Flights/day
- 0.71
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 55m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,013 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DTW to SMF
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (88% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (58%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 69% | 16 min |
| Tuesday | 89% | 5 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 95% | 3 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 31 min |
| Friday | 78% | 11 min |
| Saturday | 77% | 11 min |
| Sunday | 67% | 19 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 operations71%
- National airspace system14%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DTW to SMF delayed?
- 22% of DTW–SMF 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 14 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DTW to SMF?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (88% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (58%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DTW to SMF?
- The scheduled DTW–SMF flight time averages 4h 55m over 2,013 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are DTW to SMF flights cancelled?
- 0.5% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What day of the week is most reliable for DTW to SMF?
- Wednesday flights have the best record at 95% on-time. Day-of-week differences on this route are meaningful — Sunday trails at 67%.
Explore related pages
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Based on 402 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.