Ontario (ONT) to Sacramento (SMF): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Ontario (ONT) to Sacramento (SMF) effectively runs on two schedules. In September 2025, 93% of arrivals were on time; in June 2026 that fell to 77% — a 16-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 87% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (95% vs 79%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 87%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 8 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.3%
- Flights/day
- 5.8
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 25m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 390 mi
Best airline from ONT to SMF
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier Airlinesmost reliable | 93% | 3 min | 1.3% | 150 |
| Southwest Airlines | 87% | 8 min | 0.3% | 4,231 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from ONT to SMF
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (99% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (71%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 86% | 8 min |
| Tuesday | 89% | 6 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 90% | 6 min |
| Thursday | 88% | 7 min |
| Friday | 86% | 8 min |
| Saturday | 89% | 6 min |
| Sunday | 80% | 12 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft76%
- Airline operations20%
- National airspace system3%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from ONT to SMF delayed?
- 13% of ONT–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 8 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from ONT to SMF?
- Frontier Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 93%, based on 150 flights. 2 airlines flew ONT–SMF frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from ONT to SMF?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (99% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (71%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from ONT to SMF?
- The scheduled ONT–SMF flight time averages 1h 25m over 390 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 13% of the time.
- How often are ONT to SMF flights cancelled?
- 0.3% 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 ONT to SMF?
- June 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 77% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2025 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 16-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from ONT
Other ways to fly to Sacramento (SMF)
Related guides
Based on 4,381 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.