Phoenix (PHX) to Santa Maria (SMX): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
SkyWest Airlines effectively owns the PHX–SMX corridor, operating 100% of its flights and landing on time 84% of the time. That concentration hasn't hurt reliability: the route beats the national on-time average by 6 points (84% vs 78%).
- On-time
- 84%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 18 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.2%
- Flights/day
- 1.1
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 53m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 494 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from PHX to SMX
Aim for departures around 8 p.m. (90% on-time); avoid 2 p.m. departures (80%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 83% | 34 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 90% | 15 min |
| Wednesday | 86% | 23 min |
| Thursday | 88% | 4 min |
| Friday | 73% | 22 min |
| Saturday | 89% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 79% | 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 aircraft19%
- Airline operations36%
- National airspace system3%
- Weather41%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from PHX to SMX delayed?
- 16% of PHX–SMX 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 18 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from PHX to SMX?
- Departures around 8 p.m. have the best record (90% on-time), while departures around 2 p.m. have the worst (80%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from PHX to SMX?
- The scheduled PHX–SMX flight time averages 1h 53m over 494 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 16% of the time.
- How often are PHX to SMX flights cancelled?
- 1.2% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What day of the week is most reliable for PHX to SMX?
- Tuesday flights have the best record at 90% on-time. Day-of-week differences on this route are meaningful — Friday trails at 73%.
Explore related pages
More routes from PHX
Based on 405 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.