Sacramento (SMF) to Los Angeles (LAX): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
On this route, when you fly matters more than who you fly. Book the morning: morning departures from SMF reach LAX on time 92% of the time, versus 80% later in the day. Overall the route posts a 87% on-time rate, ahead of the national 78%. Among carriers, Delta Air Lines has the edge at 96%.
- On-time
- 87%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 9 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.3%
- Flights/day
- 15
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 37m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 373 mi
Best airline from SMF to LAX
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 96% | 2 min | 0.6% | 162 |
| United Airlines | 92% | 8 min | 0.0% | 201 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 90% | 9 min | 0.2% | 7,363 |
| Frontier Airlines | 81% | 12 min | 1.8% | 453 |
| Southwest Airlines | 80% | 11 min | 0.2% | 3,426 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SMF to LAX
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (96% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (67%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 86% | 12 min |
| Tuesday | 91% | 6 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 91% | 6 min |
| Thursday | 86% | 10 min |
| Friday | 85% | 9 min |
| Saturday | 87% | 10 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 aircraft39%
- Airline operations43%
- National airspace system8%
- Weather10%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SMF to LAX delayed?
- 13% of SMF–LAX 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.
- Which airline is most reliable from SMF to LAX?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 96%, based on 162 flights. 5 airlines flew SMF–LAX frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SMF to LAX?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (96% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (67%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SMF to LAX?
- The scheduled SMF–LAX flight time averages 1h 37m over 373 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 13% of the time.
- How often are SMF to LAX flights cancelled?
- 0.3% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What day of the week is most reliable for SMF to LAX?
- Wednesday flights have the best record at 91% on-time. Day-of-week differences on this route are meaningful — Sunday trails at 83%.
Explore related pages
More routes from SMF
Other ways to fly to Los Angeles (LAX)
Related guides
Based on 11,605 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.