Sacramento (SMF) to Honolulu (HNL): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Sacramento (SMF) to Honolulu (HNL) effectively runs on two schedules. In June 2024, 92% of arrivals were on time; in April 2026 that fell to 67% — a 25-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 82% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 82%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 13 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.2%
- Flights/day
- 2.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 44m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,462 mi
Best airline from SMF to HNL
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlinesmost reliable | 89% | 6 min | 0.0% | 730 |
| Hawaiian Airlines | 77% | 21 min | 0.5% | 579 |
| Alaska Airlines | 74% | 13 min | 0.0% | 151 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SMF to HNL
Aim for departures around 11 a.m. (88% on-time); avoid 9 a.m. departures (77%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 81% | 15 min |
| Tuesday | 85% | 14 min |
| Wednesday | 83% | 12 min |
| Thursdaybest | 88% | 11 min |
| Friday | 78% | 14 min |
| Saturday | 78% | 11 min |
| Sunday | 83% | 12 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft9%
- Airline operations81%
- National airspace system4%
- Weather7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SMF to HNL delayed?
- 18% of SMF–HNL 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 13 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from SMF to HNL?
- Southwest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 89%, based on 730 flights. 3 airlines flew SMF–HNL frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SMF to HNL?
- Departures around 11 a.m. have the best record (88% on-time), while departures around 9 a.m. have the worst (77%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SMF to HNL?
- The scheduled SMF–HNL flight time averages 5h 44m over 2,462 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 18% of the time.
- How often are SMF to HNL flights cancelled?
- 0.2% 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 HNL?
- April 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 67% of arrivals on time. The best was June 2024 at 92%. If your dates are flexible, that 25-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,460 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.