Sacramento (SMF) to Ontario (ONT): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Sacramento (SMF) to Ontario (ONT) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2025, 93% of arrivals were on time; in June 2026 that fell to 75% — a 18-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 86% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (93% vs 77%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 86%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 8 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.3%
- Flights/day
- 5.8
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 23m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 390 mi
Best airline from SMF to ONT
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier Airlinesmost reliable | 91% | 6 min | 0.7% | 150 |
| Southwest Airlines | 86% | 9 min | 0.3% | 4,237 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SMF to ONT
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (97% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (58%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 86% | 8 min |
| Tuesday | 88% | 8 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 89% | 6 min |
| Thursday | 83% | 11 min |
| Friday | 85% | 9 min |
| Saturday | 86% | 8 min |
| Sunday | 85% | 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 aircraft65%
- Airline operations30%
- National airspace system4%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SMF to ONT delayed?
- 14% of SMF–ONT 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 8 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from SMF to ONT?
- Frontier Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 91%, based on 150 flights. 2 airlines flew SMF–ONT frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SMF to ONT?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (97% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (58%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SMF to ONT?
- The scheduled SMF–ONT flight time averages 1h 23m over 390 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 14% of the time.
- How often are SMF to ONT 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 is the worst month to fly from SMF to ONT?
- June 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 75% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 18-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,387 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.