Sacramento (SMF) to Santa Ana (SNA): 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 SNA on time 92% of the time, versus 82% later in the day. Overall the route posts a 85% on-time rate, ahead of the national 78%.
- On-time
- 85%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 7 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.5%
- Flights/day
- 6.3
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 30m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 404 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SMF to SNA
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (96% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (75%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 85% | 7 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 90% | 5 min |
| Wednesday | 90% | 5 min |
| Thursday | 82% | 10 min |
| Friday | 82% | 9 min |
| Saturday | 86% | 7 min |
| Sunday | 85% | 8 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft66%
- Airline operations27%
- National airspace system7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SMF to SNA delayed?
- 15% of SMF–SNA 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 SNA?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (96% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (75%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SMF to SNA?
- The scheduled SMF–SNA flight time averages 1h 30m over 404 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 15% of the time.
- How often are SMF to SNA flights cancelled?
- 0.5% 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 SNA?
- Tuesday flights have the best record at 90% on-time. Day-of-week differences on this route are meaningful — Thursday trails at 82%.
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Based on 4,740 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.