Best Time to Fly JFK to SFO: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
John F. Kennedy International → San Francisco International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
6,770 flights were scheduled from New York (JFK) to San Francisco (SFO) in the last 12 months, and 73.4% of those that flew arrived on time, 4.2 points below the US average of 77.6%.
Among 4 airlines, American Airlines led with 76.6% on time and Delta Air Lines was last with 70.2%.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (84% on time) and June the worst month (65%).
The cancellation rate was 2.2% (US average 1.8%).
JFK 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 76.6% | 65 min | 2.6% | 1,475 |
| JetBlue | 75.1% | 73 min | 2.2% | 1,955 |
| Alaska Airlines | 72.4% | 67 min | 2.2% | 1,108 |
| Delta Air Lines | 70.2% | 69 min | 2.0% | 2,232 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly JFK to SFO
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 13,369 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | Limited data | 28 | |
| 6am–7am | 88.4% | 0.9% | 1,030 |
| 7am–8am | 82.8% | 1.4% | 1,101 |
| 8am–9am | 88.1% | 1.0% | 985 |
| 9am–10am | 81.3% | 1.1% | 1,189 |
| 10am–11am | 74.0% | 1.6% | 423 |
| 11am–12pm | 80.1% | 1.6% | 1,008 |
| 12pm–1pm | 80.0% | 0.5% | 187 |
| 1pm–2pm | 83.5% | 1.6% | 752 |
| 2pm–3pm | 81.3% | 1.1% | 454 |
| 3pm–4pm | 77.4% | 1.2% | 588 |
| 4pm–5pm | 70.3% | 2.6% | 839 |
| 5pm–6pm | 72.2% | 1.0% | 1,412 |
| 6pm–7pm | 61.1% | 2.7% | 410 |
| 7pm–8pm | 68.8% | 2.0% | 888 |
| 8pm–9pm | 65.0% | 1.5% | 1,493 |
| 9pm–10pm | 68.8% | 3.3% | 549 |
| 10pm–11pm | 67.7% | 6.1% | 33 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on JFK 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) | 82.5% | +3.2 pts | 0.8% | 254 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 58.6% | -20.7 pts | 2.4% | 465 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 68.1% | -11.2 pts | 3.4% | 2,413 |
| All other days | 79.3% | — | 1.1% | 10,237 |
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).