Newark (EWR) to Santa Ana (SNA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Newark (EWR) to Santa Ana (SNA) effectively runs on two schedules. In September 2024, 93% of arrivals were on time; in February 2025 that fell to 71% — a 22-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 84% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (90% vs 77%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 84%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 10 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.3%
- Flights/day
- 3.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 6h 8m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,433 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from EWR to SNA
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 3 p.m. departures (57%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 82% | 10 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 92% | 4 min |
| Wednesday | 86% | 8 min |
| Thursday | 83% | 11 min |
| Friday | 87% | 9 min |
| Saturday | 81% | 12 min |
| Sunday | 76% | 13 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft39%
- Airline operations30%
- National airspace system25%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from EWR to SNA delayed?
- 16% of EWR–SNA 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 10 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from EWR to SNA?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (90% on-time), while departures around 3 p.m. have the worst (57%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from EWR to SNA?
- The scheduled EWR–SNA flight time averages 6h 8m over 2,433 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 16% of the time.
- How often are EWR to SNA flights cancelled?
- 1.3% 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 EWR to SNA?
- February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 71% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 22-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,180 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.