Orlando (MCO) to Sacramento (SMF): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Orlando (MCO) to Sacramento (SMF) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 323 departures over the past year, roughly 6 a week — so treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. Of the flights that did operate, 71% arrived on time, noticeably below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 71%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 17 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.6%
- Flights/day
- 0.88
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 54m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,408 mi
Best airline from MCO to SMF
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlinesmost reliable | 85% | 10 min | 1.5% | 66 |
| Southwest Airlines | 69% | 18 min | 0.5% | 430 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MCO to SMF
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (97% on-time); avoid 3 p.m. departures (50%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 72% | 15 min |
| Tuesday | 66% | 21 min |
| Wednesday | 79% | 9 min |
| Thursday | 76% | 13 min |
| Friday | 70% | 16 min |
| Saturday | 58% | 24 min |
| Sundaybest | 80% | 18 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft39%
- Airline operations34%
- National airspace system19%
- Weather8%
- Security1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MCO to SMF delayed?
- 29% of MCO–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 17 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from MCO to SMF?
- Alaska Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 85%, based on 66 flights. 2 airlines flew MCO–SMF frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MCO to SMF?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (97% on-time), while departures around 3 p.m. have the worst (50%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MCO to SMF?
- The scheduled MCO–SMF flight time averages 5h 54m over 2,408 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 29% of the time.
- How often are MCO to SMF flights cancelled?
- 0.6% 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 MCO to SMF?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 55% of arrivals on time. The best was May 2026 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 39-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 496 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.