Newark (EWR) to Sacramento (SMF): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Newark (EWR) to Sacramento (SMF) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 283 departures over the past year, roughly 5 a week — so treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. Of the flights that did operate, 66% arrived on time, noticeably below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 66%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 28 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.1%
- Flights/day
- 0.78
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 6h 12m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,500 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from EWR to SMF
Aim for departures around 5 p.m. (80% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (62%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 63% | 28 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 80% | 14 min |
| Wednesday | 62% | 29 min |
| Thursday | 65% | 24 min |
| Friday | 59% | 25 min |
| Saturday | 69% | 47 min |
| Sunday | 65% | 26 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft47%
- Airline operations23%
- National airspace system26%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from EWR to SMF delayed?
- 34% of EWR–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 28 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from EWR to SMF?
- Departures around 5 p.m. have the best record (80% on-time), while departures around 7 p.m. have the worst (62%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from EWR to SMF?
- The scheduled EWR–SMF flight time averages 6h 12m over 2,500 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 34% of the time.
- How often are EWR to SMF flights cancelled?
- 2.1% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from EWR to SMF?
- August 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 32% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 83%. If your dates are flexible, that 51-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
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Based on 566 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.