Sacramento (SMF) to Newark (EWR): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Sacramento (SMF) to Newark (EWR) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 283 departures over the past year, roughly 5 a week — so treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. Of the flights that did operate, 74% arrived on time.
- On-time
- 74%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 23 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.3%
- Flights/day
- 0.78
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 11m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,500 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SMF to EWR
Aim for departures around 9 p.m. (89% on-time); avoid 11 p.m. departures (70%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 69% | 28 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 81% | 6 min |
| Wednesday | 67% | 37 min |
| Thursday | 80% | 23 min |
| Friday | 69% | 17 min |
| Saturday | 77% | 36 min |
| Sunday | 76% | 14 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 operations37%
- National airspace system8%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SMF to EWR delayed?
- 26% of SMF–EWR 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 23 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SMF to EWR?
- Departures around 9 p.m. have the best record (89% on-time), while departures around 11 p.m. have the worst (70%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SMF to EWR?
- The scheduled SMF–EWR flight time averages 5h 11m over 2,500 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 26% of the time.
- How often are SMF to EWR flights cancelled?
- 2.3% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from SMF to EWR?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 39% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 94%. If your dates are flexible, that 55-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from SMF
Based on 566 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.