San Francisco (SFO) to Pittsburgh (PIT): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
San Francisco (SFO) to Pittsburgh (PIT) effectively runs on two schedules. In April 2025, 98% of arrivals were on time; in July 2024 that fell to 66% — a 33-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 86% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (91% vs 79%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 86%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 7 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.4%
- Flights/day
- 1.5
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 54m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,254 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SFO to PIT
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (98% on-time); avoid 11 p.m. departures (75%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 86% | 6 min |
| Tuesday | 88% | 5 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 91% | 4 min |
| Thursday | 81% | 9 min |
| Friday | 85% | 13 min |
| Saturday | 89% | 6 min |
| Sunday | 88% | 6 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft44%
- Airline operations36%
- National airspace system21%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SFO to PIT delayed?
- 14% of SFO–PIT 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 7 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SFO to PIT?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (98% on-time), while departures around 11 p.m. have the worst (75%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SFO to PIT?
- The scheduled SFO–PIT flight time averages 4h 54m over 2,254 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 14% of the time.
- How often are SFO to PIT 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 PIT?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 66% of arrivals on time. The best was April 2025 at 98%. If your dates are flexible, that 33-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,172 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.