San Francisco (SFO) to Salt Lake City (SLC): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
San Francisco (SFO) to Salt Lake City (SLC) effectively runs on two schedules. In April 2025, 88% of arrivals were on time; in June 2026 that fell to 62% — a 27-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 79% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 79%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 17 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.7%
- Flights/day
- 9.5
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 56m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 599 mi
Best airline from SFO to SLC
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 80% | 17 min | 0.7% | 3,562 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 80% | 16 min | 0.7% | 2,408 |
| United Airlines | 78% | 15 min | 0.1% | 933 |
| Frontier Airlines | 69% | 24 min | 2.5% | 447 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SFO to SLC
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (96% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (69%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 74% | 22 min |
| Tuesday | 84% | 15 min |
| Wednesday | 83% | 14 min |
| Thursday | 76% | 18 min |
| Friday | 76% | 17 min |
| Saturdaybest | 84% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 78% | 18 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft52%
- Airline operations33%
- National airspace system13%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SFO to SLC delayed?
- 21% of SFO–SLC 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 SLC?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 80%, based on 3,562 flights. 4 airlines flew SFO–SLC frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SFO to SLC?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (96% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (69%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SFO to SLC?
- The scheduled SFO–SLC flight time averages 1h 56m over 599 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 21% of the time.
- How often are SFO to SLC flights cancelled?
- 0.7% 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 SLC?
- June 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 62% of arrivals on time. The best was April 2025 at 88%. If your dates are flexible, that 27-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 7,350 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.