San Diego (SAN) to New York (JFK): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The calendar drives reliability on SAN–JFK. April 2025 flights landed on schedule 92% of the time, but December 2024 dropped to 66% — a gap of 26 points. Across the full period the route averages 80% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 80%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 16 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.0%
- Flights/day
- 6.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 33m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,446 mi
Best airline from SAN to JFK
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JetBlue Airwaysmost reliable | 81% | 17 min | 2.4% | 1,513 |
| Delta Air Lines | 81% | 19 min | 2.2% | 2,184 |
| Alaska Airlines | 78% | 11 min | 1.4% | 1,368 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SAN to JFK
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (87% on-time); avoid 8 a.m. departures (56%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 82% | 19 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 86% | 12 min |
| Wednesday | 81% | 16 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 17 min |
| Friday | 78% | 17 min |
| Saturday | 81% | 13 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 19 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft21%
- Airline operations35%
- National airspace system35%
- Weather9%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SAN to JFK delayed?
- 20% of SAN–JFK 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 SAN to JFK?
- JetBlue Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 81%, based on 1,513 flights. 3 airlines flew SAN–JFK frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SAN to JFK?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (87% on-time), while departures around 8 a.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 SAN to JFK?
- The scheduled SAN–JFK flight time averages 5h 33m over 2,446 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 20% of the time.
- How often are SAN to JFK flights cancelled?
- 2% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from SAN to JFK?
- December 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 66% of arrivals on time. The best was April 2025 at 92%. If your dates are flexible, that 26-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from SAN
Other ways to fly to New York (JFK)
Related guides
Based on 5,065 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.