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Route · SMF → SFO · 2020–2025 BTS data

Sacramento to San Francisco

The SMF–SFO corridor (Sacramento, CA → San Francisco, CA) runs ahead of the national average, served by 5 carriers across roughly 86 miles.

Data updated 2026-06-13

82.2%
On-time
+3.2 pts
vs US avg
83 min
Delay when late
6,310
Flights

Cancelled

1.6%

Best Month

Jul 2024 92%

Worst Month

Apr 2024 57%

Distance

86 mi

Carriers

5

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 106 36 2 0 UA,OO
Nov 2025 118 49 12 0 OO
Oct 2025 145 53 0 0 OO
Sep 2025 118 41 0 0 OO
Aug 2025 113 36 0 0 OO
Jul 2025 114 27 1 0 OO
Jun 2025 111 22 0 0 OO
May 2025 115 16 0 0 OO
Apr 2025 118 17 0 0 OO
Mar 2025 94 24 0 0 OO,UA
Feb 2025 98 15 6 0 OO
Jan 2025 92 11 0 0 OO
Dec 2024 94 25 1 0 OO,UA
Nov 2024 118 28 6 0 OO,UA
Oct 2024 122 22 0 0 OO
Sep 2024 95 14 0 0 OO
Aug 2024 74 8 0 0 OO
Jul 2024 62 5 0 0 OO
Jun 2024 60 16 0 0 OO
May 2024 61 19 0 0 OO
Apr 2024 60 26 3 0 OO
Mar 2024 68 13 1 0 OO
Feb 2024 87 24 4 0 OO,UA
Jan 2024 91 20 1 0 OO

Cancellation Rate

1.6%

37 of 2,334 flights

Diversion Rate

0.0%

0 of 2,334 flights

What the Data Says About SMF to SFO

Bureau of Transportation Statistics records show Sacramento to San Francisco (SMF to SFO) running a 82.2% on-time rate over 6,310 tracked flights, on the stronger end of a typical domestic pairing. When flights do run late, the average delay is 83.0 minutes. The 86-mile corridor is served by 5 carriers, and over the last 24 months 1.6% of 2,334 flights were cancelled, 0.0% diverted.

The monthly split is wide on this route: Jul 2024 posted the strongest performance at 92% on-time, while Apr 2024 came in at just 57% - a 35-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often are flights delayed from SMF to SFO?
Flights from Sacramento to San Francisco have a 82.2% on-time rate based on 6,310 flights. The average delay is 83.0 minutes. The best recent month was Jul 2024 with 92% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for SMF to SFO?
Over the last 24 months, 1.6% of flights on this route were cancelled (37 of 2,334 flights) and 0.0% were diverted.
How far is the flight from SMF to SFO?
The flight distance from Sacramento (SMF) to San Francisco (SFO) is approximately 86 miles. This route is served by 5 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from SMF to SFO?
The best recent month for on-time performance was Jul 2024 (92% on-time). The worst was Apr 2024 (57% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

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Data source

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

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 Editorial

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.