San Francisco (SFO) to Kansas City (MCI): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
San Francisco (SFO) to Kansas City (MCI) effectively runs on two schedules. In April 2025, 97% of arrivals were on time; in July 2026 that fell to 36% — a 61-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 78% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 78%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 13 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.2%
- Flights/day
- 1.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 40m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,499 mi
Best airline from SFO to MCI
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkyWest Airlinesmost reliable | 84% | 8 min | 1.2% | 512 |
| United Airlines | 70% | 19 min | 1.2% | 332 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SFO to MCI
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (88% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (49%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 73% | 14 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 85% | 10 min |
| Wednesday | 80% | 12 min |
| Thursday | 76% | 17 min |
| Friday | 78% | 12 min |
| Saturday | 82% | 10 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 13 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft61%
- Airline operations26%
- National airspace system12%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SFO to MCI delayed?
- 22% of SFO–MCI 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 13 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from SFO to MCI?
- SkyWest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 84%, based on 512 flights. 2 airlines flew SFO–MCI frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SFO to MCI?
- Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (88% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (49%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SFO to MCI?
- The scheduled SFO–MCI flight time averages 3h 40m over 1,499 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are SFO to MCI flights cancelled?
- 1.2% 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 MCI?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 36% of arrivals on time. The best was April 2025 at 97%. If your dates are flexible, that 61-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 844 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.