San Francisco (SFO) to Palm Springs (PSP): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
San Francisco (SFO) to Palm Springs (PSP) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2026, 87% of arrivals were on time; in May 2026 that fell to 61% — a 26-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
- 17 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.8%
- Flights/day
- 6.8
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 39m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 421 mi
Best airline from SFO to PSP
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 87% | 10 min | 0.1% | 706 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 77% | 18 min | 1.0% | 4,055 |
| Frontier Airlines | 74% | 20 min | 0.0% | 89 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SFO to PSP
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 3 p.m. departures (68%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 76% | 16 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 85% | 10 min |
| Wednesday | 80% | 16 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 17 min |
| Friday | 73% | 21 min |
| Saturday | 85% | 11 min |
| Sunday | 74% | 23 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft41%
- Airline operations24%
- National airspace system33%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SFO to PSP delayed?
- 22% of SFO–PSP flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 17 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from SFO to PSP?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 87%, based on 706 flights. 3 airlines flew SFO–PSP frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SFO to PSP?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 3 p.m. have the worst (68%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SFO to PSP?
- The scheduled SFO–PSP flight time averages 1h 39m over 421 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are SFO to PSP flights cancelled?
- 0.8% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from SFO to PSP?
- May 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 61% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2026 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 26-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,862 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.