Portland (PDX) to San Francisco (SFO): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Portland (PDX) to San Francisco (SFO) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2025, 89% of arrivals were on time; in July 2026 that fell to 44% — a 45-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 75% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 75%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 16 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.6%
- Flights/day
- 9.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 53m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 550 mi
Best airline from PDX to SFO
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkyWest Airlinesmost reliable | 84% | 11 min | 0.6% | 1,094 |
| Alaska Airlines | 74% | 15 min | 0.6% | 2,631 |
| United Airlines | 74% | 17 min | 0.5% | 3,662 |
| Frontier Airlines | 67% | 23 min | 2.7% | 184 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from PDX to SFO
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (96% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (59%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 73% | 17 min |
| Tuesday | 80% | 10 min |
| Wednesday | 75% | 15 min |
| Thursday | 71% | 20 min |
| Friday | 74% | 17 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 aircraft26%
- Airline operations16%
- National airspace system58%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from PDX to SFO delayed?
- 25% of PDX–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 16 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from PDX to SFO?
- SkyWest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 84%, based on 1,094 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 6 a.m. have the best record (96% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (59%). 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 25% of the time.
- How often are PDX to SFO 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 PDX to SFO?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 44% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 45-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 7,571 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.