San Francisco (SFO) to Nashville (BNA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
San Francisco (SFO) to Nashville (BNA) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2025, 94% of arrivals were on time; in June 2026 that fell to 60% — a 35-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 75% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 75%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 15 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.6%
- Flights/day
- 3.2
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 24m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,969 mi
Best airline from SFO to BNA
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 79% | 12 min | 0.7% | 1,609 |
| Southwest Airlines | 58% | 23 min | 0.3% | 368 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SFO to BNA
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (87% on-time); avoid 10 a.m. departures (64%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 76% | 14 min |
| Tuesday | 78% | 16 min |
| Wednesday | 78% | 15 min |
| Thursday | 73% | 16 min |
| Friday | 73% | 15 min |
| Saturdaybest | 84% | 9 min |
| Sunday | 69% | 16 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft55%
- Airline operations28%
- National airspace system17%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SFO to BNA delayed?
- 25% of SFO–BNA 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.
- Which airline is most reliable from SFO to BNA?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 79%, based on 1,609 flights. 2 airlines flew SFO–BNA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SFO to BNA?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (87% on-time), while departures around 10 a.m. have the worst (64%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SFO to BNA?
- The scheduled SFO–BNA flight time averages 4h 24m over 1,969 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 25% of the time.
- How often are SFO to BNA flights cancelled?
- 0.6% 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 SFO to BNA?
- June 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 60% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 94%. If your dates are flexible, that 35-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,977 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.