Phoenix (PHX) to San Francisco (SFO): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Phoenix (PHX) to San Francisco (SFO) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2025, 90% of arrivals were on time; in May 2026 that fell to 45% — a 44-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 75% 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
- 75%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 17 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.5%
- Flights/day
- 13
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 9m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 651 mi
Best airline from PHX to SFO
6 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 80% | 14 min | 0.5% | 2,872 |
| Frontier Airlines | 78% | 16 min | 1.1% | 636 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 75% | 17 min | 0.3% | 1,086 |
| American Airlines | 73% | 21 min | 0.6% | 2,690 |
| Alaska Airlines | 72% | 14 min | 0.0% | 106 |
| Southwest Airlines | 69% | 18 min | 0.3% | 2,185 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from PHX to SFO
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (99% on-time); avoid 10 p.m. departures (56%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 70% | 19 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 84% | 11 min |
| Wednesday | 76% | 17 min |
| Thursday | 71% | 19 min |
| Friday | 73% | 20 min |
| Saturday | 82% | 12 min |
| Sunday | 69% | 21 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft36%
- Airline operations27%
- National airspace system35%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from PHX to SFO delayed?
- 25% of PHX–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 17 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from PHX to SFO?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 80%, based on 2,872 flights. 6 airlines flew PHX–SFO frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from PHX to SFO?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (99% on-time), while departures around 10 p.m. have the worst (56%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from PHX to SFO?
- The scheduled PHX–SFO flight time averages 2h 9m over 651 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 25% of the time.
- How often are PHX to SFO flights cancelled?
- 0.5% 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 PHX to SFO?
- May 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 45% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 44-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 9,576 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.