San Francisco (SFO) to Portland (PDX): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
San Francisco (SFO) to Portland (PDX) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2025, 90% of arrivals were on time; in May 2026 that fell to 68% — a 22-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 81% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 81%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 12 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.4%
- Flights/day
- 9.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 50m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 550 mi
Best airline from SFO to PDX
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 83% | 11 min | 0.3% | 3,662 |
| Alaska Airlines | 79% | 12 min | 0.6% | 2,631 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 79% | 14 min | 0.4% | 1,094 |
| Frontier Airlines | 63% | 25 min | 2.2% | 180 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SFO to PDX
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 11 a.m. departures (71%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 80% | 12 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 87% | 9 min |
| Wednesday | 82% | 11 min |
| Thursday | 76% | 15 min |
| Friday | 77% | 17 min |
| Saturday | 86% | 9 min |
| Sunday | 80% | 12 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft58%
- Airline operations29%
- National airspace system12%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SFO to PDX delayed?
- 19% of SFO–PDX 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 12 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from SFO to PDX?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 83%, based on 3,662 flights. 4 airlines flew SFO–PDX frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SFO to PDX?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 11 a.m. have the worst (71%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SFO to PDX?
- The scheduled SFO–PDX flight time averages 1h 50m over 550 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 19% of the time.
- How often are SFO to PDX flights cancelled?
- 0.4% 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 PDX?
- May 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 68% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 22-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 7,567 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.