PlainFlights

Route · MSP → SAN · 2020–2025 BTS data

Minneapolis to San Diego

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), MSP to SAN (Minneapolis to San Diego) ranks #1732 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

84%
On-time
+5 pts
vs US avg
57 min
Delay when late
7,264
Flights
#1732 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

0.4%

Best Month

Feb 2024 93%

Worst Month

Jun 2024 52%

Distance

1,532 mi

Carriers

4

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 119 51 1 2 DL
Nov 2025 113 20 1 0 DL
Oct 2025 116 20 0 1 DL
Sep 2025 107 21 1 1 DL
Aug 2025 113 22 0 0 DL
Jul 2025 119 37 1 0 DL
Jun 2025 116 34 0 0 DL
May 2025 117 16 0 0 DL
Apr 2025 106 20 0 0 DL
Mar 2025 107 28 0 1 DL
Feb 2025 84 18 0 0 DL
Jan 2025 93 14 0 1 DL
Dec 2024 113 30 0 3 DL
Nov 2024 116 18 0 0 DL
Oct 2024 123 22 0 2 DL
Sep 2024 113 10 0 0 DL
Aug 2024 120 36 0 0 DL
Jul 2024 122 37 7 0 DL
Jun 2024 117 56 0 0 DL
May 2024 110 21 0 0 DL
Apr 2024 107 13 0 0 DL
Mar 2024 106 15 0 1 DL
Feb 2024 87 6 0 0 DL
Jan 2024 93 8 0 0 DL

MSP–SAN seasonal on-time pattern

Best: September (91.7%) · weakest: December (74.2%)

70%75%80%85%90%95% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 74.2%

Strongest calendar month

September

91.7% on-time · ~105 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

August

~110 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

December

74.2% on-time · ~103 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

0.4%

11 of 2,637 flights

Diversion Rate

0.5%

12 of 2,637 flights

Origin-hub reliability standing

Mid-pack among MSP departures

From MSP, this corridor sits with 57 other 75–85% on-time routes out of 99 tracked departures, not the hub's reliability leaders (42 at ≥85%) and not the softest ( 0 below 75%). Destination: San Diego · fleet on-time rank #1580 of 4927.

What the Data Says About MSP to SAN

Bureau of Transportation Statistics records show Minneapolis to San Diego (MSP to SAN) running a 84% on-time rate over 7,264 tracked flights, on the stronger end of a typical domestic pairing. When flights do run late, the average delay is 56.5 minutes. The 1,532-mile corridor is served by 4 carriers, and over the last 24 months 0.4% of 2,637 flights were cancelled, 0.5% diverted.

The monthly split is wide on this route: Feb 2024 posted the strongest performance at 93% on-time, while Jun 2024 came in at just 52% - a 41-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, MSP–SAN peaks in September at 91.7% on-time while August carries the heaviest traffic (~110 flights per month) ; the softest month is December at 74.2%, a 17.5-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does MSP to SAN rank among US routes by traffic?
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, MSP to SAN ranks #1732 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 MSP to SAN?
Flights from Minneapolis to San Diego have a 84% on-time rate based on 7,264 flights. The average delay is 56.5 minutes. The best recent month was Feb 2024 with 93% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for MSP to SAN?
Over the last 24 months, 0.4% of flights on this route were cancelled (11 of 2,637 flights) and 0.5% were diverted.
How far is the flight from MSP to SAN?
The flight distance from Minneapolis (MSP) to San Diego (SAN) is approximately 1,532 miles. This route is served by 4 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from MSP to SAN?
The best recent month for on-time performance was Feb 2024 (93% on-time). The worst was Jun 2024 (52% 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 MSP–SAN data

MSP–SAN runs 5 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare MSP and SAN airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. MSP airport
  • If your dates flex, September (91.7% on-time) beats December (74.2%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 84% 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.