Best Time to Fly SAN to SMF: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
San Diego International → Sacramento International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
5,174 flights were scheduled from San Diego (SAN) to Sacramento (SMF) in the last 12 months, and 76.0% of those that flew arrived on time, 1.6 points below the US average of 77.6%.
SkyWest Airlines was the most punctual of the 3 airlines on the route at 80.4%, while Southwest Airlines trailed at 74.7%.
January has been the best month (85% on time) and Friday the weakest day of the week (67%).
0.8% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
SAN to SMF 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkyWest Airlines | 80.4% | 49 min | 1.5% | 1,158 |
| Alaska Airlines | 75.8% | 42 min | 2.3% | 216 |
| Southwest Airlines | 74.7% | 46 min | 0.6% | 3,800 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly SAN to SMF
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 10,516 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | 94.7% | 1.2% | 500 |
| 7am–8am | 92.0% | 1.1% | 522 |
| 8am–9am | 85.7% | 0.8% | 841 |
| 9am–10am | 84.3% | 0.5% | 814 |
| 10am–11am | 85.3% | 0.6% | 666 |
| 11am–12pm | 78.7% | 0.4% | 697 |
| 12pm–1pm | 69.4% | 0.4% | 726 |
| 1pm–2pm | 70.2% | 0.3% | 585 |
| 2pm–3pm | 73.0% | 0.0% | 497 |
| 3pm–4pm | 72.8% | 0.2% | 552 |
| 4pm–5pm | 68.6% | 0.7% | 767 |
| 5pm–6pm | 75.1% | 0.9% | 810 |
| 6pm–7pm | 68.4% | 0.7% | 589 |
| 7pm–8pm | 66.5% | 0.9% | 542 |
| 8pm–9pm | 66.5% | 1.9% | 563 |
| 9pm–10pm | 64.2% | 2.5% | 791 |
| 10pm–11pm | 72.5% | 5.6% | 54 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on SAN to SMF
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) | 72.9% | -4.9 pts | 0.5% | 219 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 60.8% | -17.0 pts | 4.2% | 424 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 70.9% | -7.0 pts | 0.6% | 1,878 |
| All other days | 77.9% | — | 0.8% | 7,995 |
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).