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Route · LGB → SMF · 2020–2025 BTS data

Long Beach to Sacramento

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), LGB to SMF (Long Beach to Sacramento) ranks #1201 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

87.4%
On-time
+8.4 pts
vs US avg
56 min
Delay when late
9,742
Flights
#1201 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

0.5%

Best Month

Feb 2024 97%

Worst Month

May 2024 80%

Distance

387 mi

Carriers

2

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 173 28 4 0 WN
Nov 2025 171 29 1 0 WN
Oct 2025 163 21 0 0 WN
Sep 2025 159 15 0 0 WN
Aug 2025 162 13 0 0 WN
Jul 2025 171 24 1 0 WN
Jun 2025 166 24 2 0 WN
May 2025 172 19 0 0 WN
Apr 2025 167 15 0 0 WN
Mar 2025 167 17 0 0 WN
Feb 2025 155 17 1 0 WN
Jan 2025 165 12 1 0 WN
Dec 2024 183 34 2 0 WN
Nov 2024 172 12 0 0 WN
Oct 2024 162 16 2 0 WN
Sep 2024 158 11 0 0 WN
Aug 2024 164 16 0 0 WN
Jul 2024 171 27 1 0 WN
Jun 2024 165 23 0 0 WN
May 2024 172 34 0 0 WN
Apr 2024 167 23 1 0 WN
Mar 2024 166 19 0 1 WN
Feb 2024 158 5 1 0 WN
Jan 2024 166 17 3 0 WN

LGB–SMF seasonal on-time pattern

Best: February (91.9%) · weakest: December (84.0%)

82%84%86%88%90%92%94% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 84%

Strongest calendar month

February

91.9% on-time · ~135 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

January

~146 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

December

84.0% on-time · ~145 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

0.5%

20 of 3,995 flights

Diversion Rate

0.0%

1 of 3,995 flights

Origin-hub reliability standing

Among LGB's stronger departures

LGB → SMF posts a 87.4% on-time rate, landing in the ≥85% band with 8 of 16 BTS-tracked routes leaving Long Beach. The same hub also shows 8 mid-band and 0 challenged departures · fleet-wide on-time rank #540 of 4927 (highest on-time = #1).

What the Data Says About LGB to SMF

Long Beach to Sacramento (LGB to SMF) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 87.4% on-time rate across 9,742 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 56.4 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 387 miles and is served by 2 carriers. Over the most recent 24 months, 20 of 3,995 flights were cancelled (0.5%) and 1 diverted (0.0%).

The monthly split is wide on this route: Feb 2024 posted the strongest performance at 97% on-time, while May 2024 came in at just 80% - a 17-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, LGB–SMF peaks in February at 91.9% on-time while January carries the heaviest traffic (~146 flights per month) ; the softest month is December at 84.0%, a 7.9-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does LGB to SMF rank among US routes by traffic?
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, LGB to SMF ranks #1201 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 LGB to SMF?
Flights from Long Beach to Sacramento have a 87.4% on-time rate based on 9,742 flights. The average delay is 56.4 minutes. The best recent month was Feb 2024 with 97% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for LGB to SMF?
Over the last 24 months, 0.5% of flights on this route were cancelled (20 of 3,995 flights) and 0.0% were diverted.
How far is the flight from LGB to SMF?
The flight distance from Long Beach (LGB) to Sacramento (SMF) is approximately 387 miles. This route is served by 2 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from LGB to SMF?
The best recent month for on-time performance was Feb 2024 (97% on-time). The worst was May 2024 (80% 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 LGB–SMF data

LGB–SMF runs 8.4 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare LGB and SMF airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. LGB airport
  • If your dates flex, February (91.9% on-time) beats December (84.0%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 87.4% 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.