Sacramento (SMF) to Houston (IAH): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Sacramento (SMF) to Houston (IAH) effectively runs on two schedules. In February 2026, 98% of arrivals were on time; in July 2024 that fell to 72% — a 26-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 88% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 88%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 9 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.6%
- Flights/day
- 1.9
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 43m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,609 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SMF to IAH
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (95% on-time); avoid 1 p.m. departures (77%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 88% | 8 min |
| Tuesday | 87% | 8 min |
| Wednesday | 89% | 7 min |
| Thursday | 88% | 15 min |
| Friday | 89% | 9 min |
| Saturdaybest | 90% | 6 min |
| Sundaybest | 90% | 5 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 operations28%
- National airspace system40%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SMF to IAH delayed?
- 12% of SMF–IAH 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 9 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SMF to IAH?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (95% on-time), while departures around 1 p.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 IAH?
- The scheduled SMF–IAH flight time averages 3h 43m over 1,609 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 12% of the time.
- How often are SMF to IAH flights cancelled?
- 0.6% 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 SMF to IAH?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 72% of arrivals on time. The best was February 2026 at 98%. If your dates are flexible, that 26-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
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Related guides
Based on 1,384 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.