San Francisco (SFO) to Lihue (LIH): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
San Francisco (SFO) to Lihue (LIH) effectively runs on two schedules. In September 2024, 100% of arrivals were on time; in December 2025 that fell to 80% — a 20-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 90% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 90%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 5 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.1%
- Flights/day
- 2.5
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 49m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,446 mi
Best airline from SFO to LIH
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 90% | 5 min | 0.2% | 1,274 |
| Alaska Airlines | 90% | 5 min | 0.0% | 236 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SFO to LIH
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 10 a.m. departures (79%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 92% | 4 min |
| Tuesday | 92% | 4 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 93% | 5 min |
| Thursday | 87% | 9 min |
| Friday | 90% | 4 min |
| Saturday | 89% | 7 min |
| Sunday | 90% | 5 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft39%
- Airline operations43%
- National airspace system18%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SFO to LIH delayed?
- 10% of SFO–LIH 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 5 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from SFO to LIH?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 90%, based on 1,274 flights. 2 airlines flew SFO–LIH frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SFO to LIH?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 10 a.m. have the worst (79%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SFO to LIH?
- The scheduled SFO–LIH flight time averages 5h 49m over 2,446 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 10% of the time.
- How often are SFO to LIH flights cancelled?
- 0.1% 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 SFO to LIH?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 80% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 100%. If your dates are flexible, that 20-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,510 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.