Minneapolis (MSP) to San Francisco (SFO): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The calendar drives reliability on MSP–SFO. October 2024 flights landed on schedule 94% of the time, but May 2026 dropped to 43% — a gap of 51 points. Across the full period the route averages 75% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 75%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 15 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.7%
- Flights/day
- 5.2
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 14m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,589 mi
Best airline from MSP to SFO
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 78% | 16 min | 0.7% | 584 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 75% | 16 min | 0.2% | 458 |
| Delta Air Lines | 75% | 15 min | 0.8% | 3,061 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MSP to SFO
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (83% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (70%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 71% | 18 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 84% | 9 min |
| Wednesday | 76% | 15 min |
| Thursday | 71% | 17 min |
| Friday | 72% | 17 min |
| Saturday | 83% | 11 min |
| Sunday | 74% | 17 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft19%
- Airline operations28%
- National airspace system52%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MSP to SFO delayed?
- 25% of MSP–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 15 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from MSP to SFO?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 78%, based on 584 flights. 3 airlines flew MSP–SFO frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MSP to SFO?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (83% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (70%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MSP to SFO?
- The scheduled MSP–SFO flight time averages 4h 14m over 1,589 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 25% of the time.
- How often are MSP to SFO flights cancelled?
- 0.7% 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 MSP to SFO?
- May 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 43% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 94%. If your dates are flexible, that 51-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,103 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.