Best Time to Fly SMF to IAD: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Sacramento International → Washington Dulles International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
365 flights were scheduled from Sacramento (SMF) to Washington (IAD) in the last 12 months, and 96.1% of those that flew arrived on time, 18.5 points above the US average of 77.6%.
United Airlines was the only reporting airline with regular flights on this route.
October has been the best month (100% on time) and Monday the weakest day of the week (89%).
1.6% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
SMF to IAD 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 96.1% | 32 min | 1.6% | 365 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly SMF to IAD
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 731 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7am–8am | 97.7% | 1.5% | 130 |
| 8am–9am | 91.6% | 0.7% | 544 |
| 10pm–11pm | Limited data | 18 | |
| 11pm–12am | 94.7% | 2.6% | 39 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on SMF to IAD
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) | Limited data | 14 | ||
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 93.3% | -1.5 pts | 0.0% | 30 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 83.3% | -11.5 pts | 1.6% | 124 |
| All other days | 94.8% | — | 1.1% | 563 |
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).