New York (JFK) to San Francisco (SFO): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The calendar drives reliability on JFK–SFO. January 2025 flights landed on schedule 92% of the time, but June 2026 dropped to 61% — a gap of 31 points. Across the full period the route averages 77% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (83% vs 68%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 77%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 18 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.5%
- Flights/day
- 19
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 6h 36m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,586 mi
Best airline from JFK to SFO
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlinesmost reliable | 79% | 15 min | 1.8% | 2,994 |
| JetBlue Airways | 77% | 18 min | 1.6% | 3,926 |
| Delta Air Lines | 76% | 19 min | 1.3% | 4,671 |
| Alaska Airlines | 75% | 18 min | 1.6% | 2,378 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from JFK to SFO
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (89% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (61%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 74% | 18 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 83% | 13 min |
| Wednesday | 79% | 16 min |
| Thursday | 74% | 20 min |
| Friday | 77% | 18 min |
| Saturday | 76% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 73% | 21 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft27%
- Airline operations32%
- National airspace system38%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from JFK to SFO delayed?
- 23% of JFK–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 18 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from JFK to SFO?
- American Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 79%, based on 2,994 flights. 4 airlines flew JFK–SFO frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from JFK to SFO?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (89% on-time), while departures around 6 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 JFK to SFO?
- The scheduled JFK–SFO flight time averages 6h 36m over 2,586 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 23% of the time.
- How often are JFK to SFO flights cancelled?
- 1.5% 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 JFK to SFO?
- June 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 61% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 92%. If your dates are flexible, that 31-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 13,969 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.