Sacramento (SMF) to Palm Springs (PSP): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Sacramento (SMF) to Palm Springs (PSP) effectively runs on two schedules. In July 2026, 100% of arrivals were on time; in August 2024 that fell to 64% — a 36-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 82% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (91% vs 72%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 82%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 11 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.1%
- Flights/day
- 1.4
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 30m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 439 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SMF to PSP
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (97% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (68%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 83% | 12 min |
| Tuesday | 87% | 9 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 89% | 4 min |
| Thursday | 76% | 15 min |
| Friday | 77% | 13 min |
| Saturday | 88% | 10 min |
| Sunday | 81% | 10 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft78%
- Airline operations16%
- National airspace system6%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SMF to PSP delayed?
- 18% of SMF–PSP 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 11 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SMF to PSP?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (97% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (68%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SMF to PSP?
- The scheduled SMF–PSP flight time averages 1h 30m over 439 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 18% of the time.
- How often are SMF to PSP flights cancelled?
- 0.1% 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 PSP?
- August 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 64% of arrivals on time. The best was July 2026 at 100%. If your dates are flexible, that 36-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 954 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.