San Francisco (SFO) to Palm Springs (PSP): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
San Francisco (SFO) to Palm Springs (PSP) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2026, 87% of arrivals were on time; in June 2026 that fell to 58% — a 29-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 77% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (85% vs 77%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 77%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 17 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.8%
- Flights/day
- 7.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 40m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 421 mi
Best airline from SFO to PSP
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 88% | 8 min | 0.1% | 680 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 75% | 18 min | 0.9% | 4,358 |
| 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 12 p.m. departures (66%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 73% | 18 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 84% | 11 min |
| Wednesday | 79% | 16 min |
| Thursday | 75% | 19 min |
| Friday | 72% | 21 min |
| Saturday | 84% | 11 min |
| Sunday | 73% | 21 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 operations22%
- National airspace system37%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SFO to PSP delayed?
- 23% of SFO–PSP 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 17 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from SFO to PSP?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 88%, based on 680 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 12 p.m. have the worst (66%). 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 40m over 421 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 23% of the time.
- How often are SFO to PSP flights cancelled?
- 0.8% 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 PSP?
- June 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 58% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2026 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 29-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 5,139 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.