San Francisco (SFO) to Baltimore (BWI): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
San Francisco (SFO) to Baltimore (BWI) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2025, 93% of arrivals were on time; in June 2026 that fell to 66% — a 27-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 82% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (87% vs 79%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 82%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 9 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.7%
- Flights/day
- 2.9
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 16m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,457 mi
Best airline from SFO to BWI
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 87% | 7 min | 0.7% | 1,352 |
| Southwest Airlines | 65% | 18 min | 0.7% | 422 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SFO to BWI
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (72%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 82% | 10 min |
| Tuesday | 85% | 7 min |
| Wednesday | 81% | 8 min |
| Thursday | 79% | 9 min |
| Friday | 79% | 11 min |
| Saturdaybest | 87% | 8 min |
| Sunday | 80% | 10 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft60%
- Airline operations25%
- National airspace system15%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SFO to BWI delayed?
- 18% of SFO–BWI 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 9 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from SFO to BWI?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 87%, based on 1,352 flights. 2 airlines flew SFO–BWI frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SFO to BWI?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (72%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SFO to BWI?
- The scheduled SFO–BWI flight time averages 5h 16m over 2,457 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 18% of the time.
- How often are SFO to BWI flights cancelled?
- 0.7% 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 BWI?
- June 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 66% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 27-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,774 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.