Orlando (MCO) to Sacramento (SMF): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Orlando (MCO) to Sacramento (SMF) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 320 departures over the past year, roughly 6 a week — so treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. Of the flights that did operate, 72% arrived on time, noticeably below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 72%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 16 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.7%
- Flights/day
- 0.88
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 57m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,408 mi
Best airline from MCO to SMF
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlinesmost reliable | 85% | 10 min | 1.5% | 66 |
| Southwest Airlines | 69% | 17 min | 0.5% | 373 |
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 | 73% | 14 min |
| Tuesday | 68% | 19 min |
| Wednesday | 79% | 10 min |
| Thursdaybest | 80% | 10 min |
| Friday | 73% | 13 min |
| Saturday | 57% | 25 min |
| Sunday | 77% | 20 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft40%
- Airline operations31%
- National airspace system22%
- Weather6%
- Security1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MCO to SMF delayed?
- 28% of MCO–SMF 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 16 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 57m over 2,408 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 28% of the time.
- How often are MCO to SMF flights cancelled?
- 0.7% 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 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 439 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.