Portland (PDX) to San Francisco (SFO): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Portland (PDX) to San Francisco (SFO) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2025, 89% of arrivals were on time; in May 2026 that fell to 48% — a 42-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 77% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (78% vs 69%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 77%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 15 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.7%
- Flights/day
- 9.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 53m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 550 mi
Best airline from PDX to SFO
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkyWest Airlinesmost reliable | 83% | 11 min | 0.7% | 1,117 |
| United Airlines | 76% | 16 min | 0.5% | 3,440 |
| Alaska Airlines | 76% | 14 min | 0.7% | 2,467 |
| Frontier Airlines | 60% | 32 min | 2.3% | 214 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from PDX to SFO
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (96% on-time); avoid 8 a.m. departures (62%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 75% | 15 min |
| Tuesday | 82% | 9 min |
| Wednesday | 77% | 15 min |
| Thursday | 74% | 18 min |
| Friday | 75% | 16 min |
| Saturdaybest | 83% | 11 min |
| Sunday | 73% | 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 aircraft28%
- Airline operations16%
- National airspace system55%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from PDX to SFO delayed?
- 23% of PDX–SFO 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 15 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from PDX to SFO?
- SkyWest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 83%, based on 1,117 flights. 4 airlines flew PDX–SFO frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from PDX to SFO?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (96% on-time), while departures around 8 a.m. have the worst (62%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from PDX to SFO?
- The scheduled PDX–SFO flight time averages 1h 53m over 550 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 23% of the time.
- How often are PDX to SFO 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 PDX to SFO?
- May 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 48% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 42-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 7,238 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.