Honolulu (HNL) to San Francisco (SFO): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Honolulu (HNL) to San Francisco (SFO) effectively runs on two schedules. In September 2025, 90% of arrivals were on time; in June 2026 that fell to 74% — a 16-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 81% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 81%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Flights/day
- 6.8
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 9m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,398 mi
Best airline from HNL to SFO
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 87% | 12 min | 0.8% | 3,656 |
| Alaska Airlines | 68% | 19 min | 1.1% | 732 |
| Hawaiian Airlines | 65% | 20 min | 1.5% | 816 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from HNL to SFO
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (96% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (61%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 82% | 10 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 84% | 14 min |
| Wednesday | 83% | 13 min |
| Thursday | 78% | 16 min |
| Friday | 80% | 14 min |
| Saturday | 82% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 77% | 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 aircraft34%
- Airline operations57%
- National airspace system9%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from HNL to SFO delayed?
- 19% of HNL–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 14 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from HNL to SFO?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 87%, based on 3,656 flights. 3 airlines flew HNL–SFO frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from HNL to SFO?
- Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (96% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (61%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from HNL to SFO?
- The scheduled HNL–SFO flight time averages 5h 9m over 2,398 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 19% of the time.
- How often are HNL to SFO flights cancelled?
- 0.9% 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 HNL to SFO?
- June 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 74% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2025 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 16-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 5,204 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.