Santa Barbara (SBA) to San Francisco (SFO): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Santa Barbara (SBA) to San Francisco (SFO) effectively runs on two schedules. In September 2024, 90% of arrivals were on time; in April 2026 that fell to 44% — a 46-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 69% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (72% vs 63%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 69%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 23 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.1%
- Flights/day
- 4.5
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 16m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 262 mi
Best airline from SBA to SFO
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 72% | 22 min | 0.8% | 1,785 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 65% | 24 min | 1.4% | 1,371 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SBA to SFO
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (88% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (31%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 66% | 28 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 75% | 18 min |
| Wednesday | 67% | 25 min |
| Thursday | 67% | 25 min |
| Friday | 68% | 21 min |
| Saturday | 73% | 23 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 aircraft25%
- Airline operations21%
- National airspace system51%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SBA to SFO delayed?
- 31% of SBA–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 23 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from SBA to SFO?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 72%, based on 1,785 flights. 2 airlines flew SBA–SFO frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SBA to SFO?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (88% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (31%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SBA to SFO?
- The scheduled SBA–SFO flight time averages 1h 16m over 262 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 31% of the time.
- How often are SBA to SFO flights cancelled?
- 1.1% 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 SBA to SFO?
- April 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 44% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 46-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,156 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.