PlainFlights

Route · DFW → SMF · 2020–2025 BTS data

Dallas/Fort Worth to Sacramento

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), DFW to SMF (Dallas/Fort Worth to Sacramento) ranks #1267 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

71.6%
On-time
-7.4 pts
vs US avg
75 min
Delay when late
9,357
Flights
#1267 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

2.1%

Best Month

Feb 2025 82%

Worst Month

Jul 2024 42%

Distance

1,431 mi

Carriers

4

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 137 36 0 1 AA
Nov 2025 129 36 4 0 AA
Oct 2025 145 41 3 1 AA
Sep 2025 122 34 1 1 AA
Aug 2025 156 68 4 0 AA
Jul 2025 164 71 4 0 AA
Jun 2025 162 76 3 0 AA
May 2025 153 62 4 0 AA
Apr 2025 150 47 3 0 AA
Mar 2025 151 36 3 0 AA
Feb 2025 124 22 1 0 AA
Jan 2025 137 31 8 0 AA
Dec 2024 139 36 5 0 AA,F9
Nov 2024 143 37 3 0 F9,AA
Oct 2024 153 37 0 1 F9,AA
Sep 2024 131 28 0 0 AA,F9
Aug 2024 164 71 1 1 AA,F9
Jul 2024 169 98 3 0 AA,F9
Jun 2024 161 51 2 0 AA,F9
May 2024 154 68 14 0 AA
Apr 2024 140 41 3 0 AA
Mar 2024 147 45 3 0 AA
Feb 2024 134 24 0 0 AA,NK
Jan 2024 142 49 1 0 AA

DFW–SMF seasonal on-time pattern

Best: February (82.1%) · weakest: June (59.1%)

50%60%70%80%90% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 74.8%

Strongest calendar month

February

82.1% on-time · ~117 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

August

~146 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

June

59.1% on-time · ~133 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

2.1%

73 of 3,507 flights

Diversion Rate

0.1%

5 of 3,507 flights

Origin-hub reliability standing

Softer reliability from DFW

Among 183 routes leaving DFW, only 57 (including this one) clear below 75% on-time, while 13 stay ≥85% and 113 sit mid-band. Travelers comparing DFW options should weigh this 71.6% print against those peers · fleet on-time rank #4777 of 4927.

What the Data Says About DFW to SMF

On-time performance on the DFW to SMF pairing (Dallas/Fort Worth to Sacramento) trails a chunk of the network: 71.6% of 9,357 tracked flights arrived on schedule, with a 75.2-minute average delay on the ones that ran late. The route spans about 1,431 miles across 4 carriers. Cancellations over the trailing 24 months hit 2.1% (73 of 3,507 flights), with 0.1% diverted.

The monthly split is wide on this route: Feb 2025 posted the strongest performance at 82% on-time, while Jul 2024 came in at just 42% - a 40-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, DFW–SMF peaks in February at 82.1% on-time while August carries the heaviest traffic (~146 flights per month) ; the softest month is June at 59.1%, a 23.0-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does DFW to SMF rank among US routes by traffic?
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, DFW to SMF ranks #1267 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1). That ordinal matches our busiest-routes listing (total_flights DESC). See /methodology#corpus-placement for the exact sort basis.
How often are flights delayed from DFW to SMF?
Flights from Dallas/Fort Worth to Sacramento have a 71.6% on-time rate based on 9,357 flights. The average delay is 75.2 minutes. The best recent month was Feb 2025 with 82% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for DFW to SMF?
Over the last 24 months, 2.1% of flights on this route were cancelled (73 of 3,507 flights) and 0.1% were diverted.
How far is the flight from DFW to SMF?
The flight distance from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Sacramento (SMF) is approximately 1,431 miles. This route is served by 4 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from DFW to SMF?
The best recent month for on-time performance was Feb 2025 (82% on-time). The worst was Jul 2024 (42% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

Data source

Data Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), On-Time Performance Data. Statistics reflect cumulative performance across all available reporting periods.

Using DFW–SMF data

DFW–SMF sits 7.4 pts below the national 79% average; check the seasonal chart and airport profiles before treating the headline as typical.

  • Compare DFW and SMF airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. DFW airport
  • If your dates flex, February (82.1% on-time) beats June (59.1%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 71.6% on-time rate; compare before you commit to this pairing. Similar routes

On-time rate reflects the BTS historical average across all reporting carriers on this origin–destination pair, not any single flight or booking recommendation.

Data sourced from U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) On-Time Performance data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFlights

Every figure on PlainFlights is rendered directly from BTS On-Time Performance data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates this specific route's on-time performance and monthly trend, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.