Best Time to Fly SMF to JFK: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Sacramento International → John F. Kennedy International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 71.5% of Sacramento (SMF) to New York (JFK) flights arrived on time (165 scheduled flights). That is 6.1 points below the national average of 77.6%.
JetBlue was the only reporting airline with regular flights on this route.
October has been the best month (88% on time) and Thursday the weakest day of the week (58%).
4.2% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
SMF to JFK 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JetBlue | 71.5% | 108 min | 4.2% | 165 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly SMF to JFK
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 345 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10pm–11pm | Limited data | 4 | |
| 11pm–12am | 68.0% | 2.9% | 341 |
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 JFK
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 46.5% | -32.2 pts | 8.1% | 124 |
| All other days | 78.7% | — | 0.0% | 221 |
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).