San Francisco (SFO) to Sacramento (SMF): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
San Francisco (SFO) to Sacramento (SMF) effectively runs on two schedules. In April 2025, 90% of arrivals were on time; in July 2026 that fell to 63% — a 27-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 80% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 80%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 16 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.4%
- Flights/day
- 3.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 58m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 86 mi
Best airline from SFO to SMF
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkyWest Airlinesmost reliable | 81% | 16 min | 1.4% | 2,568 |
| United Airlines | 67% | 18 min | 0.0% | 95 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SFO to SMF
Aim for departures around 11 p.m. (91% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (63%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 75% | 18 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 86% | 9 min |
| Wednesday | 82% | 12 min |
| Thursday | 80% | 15 min |
| Friday | 79% | 13 min |
| Saturday | 84% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 76% | 27 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft30%
- Airline operations38%
- National airspace system22%
- Weather11%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SFO to SMF delayed?
- 20% of SFO–SMF 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 16 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from SFO to SMF?
- SkyWest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 81%, based on 2,568 flights. 2 airlines flew SFO–SMF frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SFO to SMF?
- Departures around 11 p.m. have the best record (91% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (63%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SFO to SMF?
- The scheduled SFO–SMF flight time averages 58m over 86 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 20% of the time.
- How often are SFO to SMF flights cancelled?
- 1.4% 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 SMF?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 63% of arrivals on time. The best was April 2025 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 27-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,663 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.