Phoenix (PHX) to San Francisco (SFO): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Phoenix (PHX) to San Francisco (SFO) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2025, 90% of arrivals were on time; in June 2026 that fell to 37% — a 52-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 72% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (76% vs 66%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 72%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 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 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 77% | 15 min | 0.5% | 3,003 |
| Frontier Airlines | 77% | 16 min | 1.2% | 666 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 73% | 18 min | 0.3% | 1,142 |
| Alaska Airlines | 72% | 14 min | 0.0% | 106 |
| American Airlines | 70% | 24 min | 0.5% | 2,817 |
| Southwest Airlines | 67% | 20 min | 0.3% | 2,270 |
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 (57%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 67% | 22 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 81% | 13 min |
| Wednesday | 74% | 17 min |
| Thursday | 68% | 21 min |
| Friday | 70% | 22 min |
| Saturday | 80% | 13 min |
| Sunday | 68% | 22 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft37%
- Airline operations25%
- National airspace system36%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from PHX to SFO delayed?
- 28% of PHX–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 19 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from PHX to SFO?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 77%, based on 3,003 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 (57%). 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 28% of the time.
- How often are PHX to SFO flights cancelled?
- 0.5% 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 PHX to SFO?
- June 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 37% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 52-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 10,005 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.