San Diego (SAN) to Tucson (TUS): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
San Diego (SAN) to Tucson (TUS) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2025, 92% of arrivals were on time; in April 2026 that fell to 64% — a 28-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 78% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (86% vs 71%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 78%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 15 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.5%
- Flights/day
- 1.8
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 26m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 367 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SAN to TUS
Aim for departures around 1 p.m. (91% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (63%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 78% | 14 min |
| Tuesday | 81% | 10 min |
| Wednesday | 83% | 12 min |
| Thursday | 76% | 19 min |
| Friday | 76% | 19 min |
| Saturdaybest | 85% | 8 min |
| Sunday | 70% | 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 aircraft71%
- Airline operations22%
- National airspace system7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SAN to TUS delayed?
- 22% of SAN–TUS 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 15 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SAN to TUS?
- Departures around 1 p.m. have the best record (91% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (63%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SAN to TUS?
- The scheduled SAN–TUS flight time averages 1h 26m over 367 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are SAN to TUS 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 SAN to TUS?
- April 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 64% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 92%. If your dates are flexible, that 28-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from SAN
Other ways to fly to Tucson (TUS)
Related guides
Based on 1,325 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.