Long Beach (LGB) to Sacramento (SMF): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Long Beach (LGB) to Sacramento (SMF) effectively runs on two schedules. In September 2024, 93% of arrivals were on time; in June 2026 that fell to 78% — a 16-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 88% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (95% vs 82%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 88%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 7 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.4%
- Flights/day
- 5.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 26m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 387 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from LGB to SMF
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (98% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (76%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 88% | 7 min |
| Tuesday | 91% | 4 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 93% | 4 min |
| Thursday | 86% | 8 min |
| Friday | 84% | 10 min |
| Saturday | 88% | 8 min |
| Sunday | 87% | 7 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft78%
- Airline operations15%
- National airspace system6%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from LGB to SMF delayed?
- 12% of LGB–SMF 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 7 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from LGB to SMF?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (98% on-time), while departures around 8 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 LGB to SMF?
- The scheduled LGB–SMF flight time averages 1h 26m over 387 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 12% of the time.
- How often are LGB to SMF flights cancelled?
- 0.4% 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 LGB to SMF?
- June 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 78% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 16-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,042 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.