Sacramento (SMF) to Minneapolis (MSP): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The calendar drives reliability on SMF–MSP. August 2025 flights landed on schedule 98% of the time, but January 2026 dropped to 74% — a gap of 25 points. Across the full period the route averages 91% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 91%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 7 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.7%
- Flights/day
- 1.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 29m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,517 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SMF to MSP
Aim for departures around 2 p.m. (94% on-time); avoid 12 p.m. departures (83%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 91% | 11 min |
| Tuesday | 93% | 5 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 95% | 3 min |
| Thursday | 94% | 3 min |
| Friday | 89% | 8 min |
| Saturday | 87% | 9 min |
| Sunday | 89% | 9 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft14%
- Airline operations65%
- National airspace system21%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SMF to MSP delayed?
- 9% of SMF–MSP 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 7 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SMF to MSP?
- Departures around 2 p.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 12 p.m. have the worst (83%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SMF to MSP?
- The scheduled SMF–MSP flight time averages 3h 29m over 1,517 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 9% of the time.
- How often are SMF to MSP flights cancelled?
- 0.7% 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 MSP?
- January 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 74% of arrivals on time. The best was August 2025 at 98%. If your dates are flexible, that 25-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
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Based on 1,212 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.