Sacramento (SMF) to Atlanta (ATL): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The calendar drives reliability on SMF–ATL. September 2025 flights landed on schedule 99% of the time, but July 2024 dropped to 72% — a gap of 26 points. Across the full period the route averages 90% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 90%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 9 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.4%
- Flights/day
- 2.8
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 30m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,092 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SMF to ATL
Aim for departures around 11 p.m. (94% on-time); avoid 6 a.m. departures (87%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 91% | 10 min |
| Tuesday | 91% | 9 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 92% | 9 min |
| Thursday | 92% | 5 min |
| Friday | 89% | 9 min |
| Saturday | 88% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 87% | 11 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft18%
- Airline operations65%
- National airspace system10%
- Weather7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SMF to ATL delayed?
- 10% of SMF–ATL 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 9 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SMF to ATL?
- Departures around 11 p.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 6 a.m. have the worst (87%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SMF to ATL?
- The scheduled SMF–ATL flight time averages 4h 30m over 2,092 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 10% of the time.
- How often are SMF to ATL flights cancelled?
- 1.4% 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 SMF to ATL?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 72% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2025 at 99%. If your dates are flexible, that 26-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
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Based on 2,009 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.