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Route · SMF → LGB · 2020–2025 BTS data

Sacramento to Long Beach

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), SMF to LGB (Sacramento to Long Beach) ranks #1202 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

87.5%
On-time
+8.5 pts
vs US avg
52 min
Delay when late
9,737
Flights
#1202 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

0.5%

Best Month

Aug 2024 94%

Worst Month

Nov 2025 81%

Distance

387 mi

Carriers

3

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 173 32 1 1 WN
Nov 2025 171 32 1 0 WN
Oct 2025 163 15 0 0 WN
Sep 2025 159 15 0 0 WN
Aug 2025 162 26 1 0 WN
Jul 2025 171 23 0 0 WN
Jun 2025 166 29 1 0 WN
May 2025 172 20 0 0 WN
Apr 2025 167 26 0 0 WN
Mar 2025 167 23 0 0 WN
Feb 2025 155 19 0 0 WN
Jan 2025 165 19 1 0 WN
Dec 2024 183 28 3 2 WN
Nov 2024 172 15 0 0 WN
Oct 2024 162 23 3 0 WN
Sep 2024 158 16 0 1 WN
Aug 2024 164 10 0 0 WN
Jul 2024 171 30 2 1 WN
Jun 2024 165 23 0 0 WN
May 2024 172 29 0 0 WN
Apr 2024 167 23 2 0 WN
Mar 2024 166 17 2 0 WN
Feb 2024 158 10 2 0 WN
Jan 2024 166 15 2 1 WN

SMF–LGB seasonal on-time pattern

Best: February (92.8%) · weakest: June (84.0%)

82%84%86%88%90%92%94% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 84.7%

Strongest calendar month

February

92.8% on-time · ~135 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

January

~146 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

June

84.0% on-time · ~130 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

0.5%

21 of 3,995 flights

Diversion Rate

0.2%

6 of 3,995 flights

Explore origin & destination

On-time and delay data for the airports this route connects.

SMF - Sacramento

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Sacramento, CA.

SMF on-time profile

LGB - Long Beach

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Long Beach, CA.

LGB on-time profile

Compare the two airports

See SMF and LGB side by side on delays, cancellations, and reliability.

Compare SMF vs LGB

Origin-hub reliability standing

Among SMF's stronger departures

SMF → LGB posts a 87.5% on-time rate, landing in the ≥85% band with 20 of 35 BTS-tracked routes leaving Sacramento. The same hub also shows 14 mid-band and 1 challenged departures · fleet-wide on-time rank #524 of 4927 (highest on-time = #1).

What the Data Says About SMF to LGB

Sacramento to Long Beach (SMF to LGB) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 87.5% on-time rate across 9,737 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 52.2 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 387 miles and is served by 3 carriers. Over the most recent 24 months, 21 of 3,995 flights were cancelled (0.5%) and 6 diverted (0.2%).

Monthly performance varies moderately here: Aug 2024 was the strongest month at 94% on-time versus Nov 2025 at 81%, a 13-point difference.

On the multi-year calendar, SMF–LGB peaks in February at 92.8% on-time while January carries the heaviest traffic (~146 flights per month) ; the softest month is June at 84.0%, a 8.8-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does SMF to LGB rank among US routes by traffic? ▼
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, SMF to LGB ranks #1202 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 SMF to LGB? ▼
Flights from Sacramento to Long Beach have a 87.5% on-time rate based on 9,737 flights. The average delay is 52.2 minutes. The best recent month was Aug 2024 with 94% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for SMF to LGB? ▼
Over the last 24 months, 0.5% of flights on this route were cancelled (21 of 3,995 flights) and 0.2% were diverted.
How far is the flight from SMF to LGB? ▼
The flight distance from Sacramento (SMF) to Long Beach (LGB) is approximately 387 miles. This route is served by 3 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from SMF to LGB? ▼
The best recent month for on-time performance was Aug 2024 (94% on-time). The worst was Nov 2025 (81% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

SMF Airport

Sacramento
LGB Airport

Long Beach
Data source

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

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Using SMF–LGB data

SMF–LGB runs 8.5 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare SMF and LGB airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. SMF airport
  • If your dates flex, February (92.8% on-time) beats June (84.0%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 87.5% 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.