Best Time to Fly EWR to SFO: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Newark Liberty International → San Francisco International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
4,373 flights were scheduled from Newark (EWR) to San Francisco (SFO) in the last 12 months, and 69.5% of those that flew arrived on time, 8.2 points below the US average of 77.6%.
Alaska Airlines was the most punctual of the 2 airlines on the route at 77.5%, while United Airlines trailed at 68.3%.
March has been the best month (81% on time) and Thursday the weakest day of the week (68%).
2.3% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
EWR to SFO on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines | 77.5% | 61 min | 1.1% | 548 |
| United Airlines | 68.3% | 93 min | 2.5% | 3,825 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly EWR to SFO
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 8,738 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | 96.9% | 0.0% | 32 |
| 6am–7am | 83.4% | 1.7% | 696 |
| 7am–8am | 77.7% | 2.5% | 798 |
| 8am–9am | 78.2% | 1.9% | 758 |
| 9am–10am | 79.5% | 1.2% | 489 |
| 10am–11am | 72.7% | 1.1% | 617 |
| 11am–12pm | 73.1% | 1.5% | 467 |
| 12pm–1pm | 74.2% | 1.5% | 271 |
| 1pm–2pm | 78.1% | 2.4% | 426 |
| 2pm–3pm | 73.5% | 1.0% | 708 |
| 3pm–4pm | 74.2% | 1.6% | 548 |
| 4pm–5pm | 72.8% | 2.7% | 700 |
| 5pm–6pm | 66.1% | 1.4% | 564 |
| 6pm–7pm | 59.9% | 2.3% | 854 |
| 7pm–8pm | 48.3% | 2.9% | 210 |
| 8pm–9pm | 61.0% | 4.5% | 599 |
| 9pm–10pm | Limited data | 1 | |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on EWR to SFO
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | 82.6% | +7.2 pts | 1.1% | 174 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 55.2% | -20.1 pts | 0.8% | 357 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 62.0% | -13.3 pts | 4.2% | 1,514 |
| All other days | 75.4% | — | 1.6% | 6,693 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).