New York (JFK) to San Diego (SAN): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The calendar drives reliability on JFK–SAN. October 2024 flights landed on schedule 88% of the time, but February 2025 dropped to 70% — a gap of 18 points. Across the full period the route averages 80% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 80%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 12 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.6%
- Flights/day
- 6.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 6h 12m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,446 mi
Best airline from JFK to SAN
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JetBlue Airwaysmost reliable | 85% | 8 min | 1.4% | 1,453 |
| Delta Air Lines | 80% | 12 min | 1.9% | 2,088 |
| Alaska Airlines | 76% | 15 min | 1.3% | 1,309 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from JFK to SAN
Aim for departures around 11 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (76%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 82% | 9 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 88% | 9 min |
| Wednesday | 82% | 11 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 14 min |
| Friday | 79% | 12 min |
| Saturday | 79% | 12 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 14 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft20%
- Airline operations34%
- National airspace system43%
- Weather3%
- Security1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from JFK to SAN delayed?
- 20% of JFK–SAN 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 12 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from JFK to SAN?
- JetBlue Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 85%, based on 1,453 flights. 3 airlines flew JFK–SAN frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from JFK to SAN?
- Departures around 11 a.m. have the best record (90% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (76%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from JFK to SAN?
- The scheduled JFK–SAN flight time averages 6h 12m over 2,446 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 20% of the time.
- How often are JFK to SAN flights cancelled?
- 1.6% 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 JFK to SAN?
- February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 70% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 88%. If your dates are flexible, that 18-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,850 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.