New York (JFK) to San Diego (SAN): On-Time Performance
Data through July 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 79% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 79%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 12 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.8%
- 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 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JetBlue Airwaysmost reliable | 84% | 9 min | 1.9% | 1,513 |
| Delta Air Lines | 79% | 13 min | 2.0% | 2,184 |
| Alaska Airlines | 76% | 16 min | 1.4% | 1,368 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from JFK to SAN
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (89% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (74%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 81% | 10 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 87% | 10 min |
| Wednesday | 81% | 11 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 14 min |
| Friday | 79% | 12 min |
| Saturday | 77% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 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 aircraft20%
- Airline operations33%
- National airspace system42%
- Weather5%
- Security1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from JFK to SAN delayed?
- 21% of JFK–SAN 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 12 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from JFK to SAN?
- JetBlue Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 84%, based on 1,513 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 6 a.m. have the best record (89% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (74%). 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 21% of the time.
- How often are JFK to SAN flights cancelled?
- 1.8% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, slightly above 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 5,065 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.