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Route on-time record

SBA to SFO: most on-time flights and the best time to fly

Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara Municipal Airport) to San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport). 1,581 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 64% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.5% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was United 2340 at 6:00 AM.

Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.

Find me the most reliable flights fromtoonreturning(optional)

SBA → SFO

Santa Barbara to San Francisco: 1,581 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

64%

Cancelled

1.5%

avg delay 27 min

Best time to leave

3 to 6 PM

75% on time vs 54% 9 AM to noon

Most reliable airline

United

68% chance on time

Check SBA to SFO fares

Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $224 (United 2340 on 2026-10-29). Fares open on our travel partner (Aviasales). Pick the flight number you chose here.

Most reliable nonstop flights

Ranked by the chance the flight operates and arrives within 15 minutes of schedule, from Jun 2025 to May 2026 records.

  1. #1 · United 2340

    6:00 AM → 7:11 AM1h 17m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    90%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    91%
    Cancelled
    0.7%
    Avg arrival delay
    7 min
    • Arrived on time 91% of the time (135 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Lands inside SFO's trouble window: 60% of its 334 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.

    Moderate track record · 135 flights

    Find United 2340 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  2. #2 · SkyWest 5256 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska

    4:11 PM → 5:38 PM1h 26m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    67%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    65%
    Cancelled
    3.7%
    Avg arrival delay
    15 min
    • Arrived on time 65% of the time (52 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 3.7% of the time (2 of 54).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (3 to 6 PM: 75% on time; 9 AM to noon: 54%).

    Limited track record · 52 flights

    Find 4:11 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  3. #3 · United 2305

    2:16 PM → 3:33 PM1h 17m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    59%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    59%
    Cancelled
    0.3%
    Avg arrival delay
    33 min
    • Arrived on time 59% of the time (307 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).

    Strong track record · 307 flights

    Find United 2305 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  4. #4 · United 2097

    8:31 PM → 9:48 PM1h 17m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.

    54%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    53%
    Cancelled
    0.8%
    Avg arrival delay
    36 min
    • Arrived on time 53% of the time (264 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).

    Strong track record · 264 flights

    Find United 2097 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  5. #5 · SkyWest 5704 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska

    8:24 PM → 9:50 PM1h 26m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    40%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    20%
    Cancelled
    9.1%
    Avg arrival delay
    53 min
    • Arrived on time 20% of the time (10 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).

    Limited track record · 10 flights

    Find 8:24 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  6. #6 · SkyWest 4715 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska

    9:50 AM → 11:18 AM1h 28m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    38%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    27%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    39 min
    • Arrived on time 27% of the time (63 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 63 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's least on-time window (9 AM to noon: 54% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 75%).
    • Lands inside SFO's trouble window: 60% of its 334 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.

    Moderate track record · 63 flights

    Find 9:50 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

  • United Airlines68%

    1,030 flights · 69% on time as flown · 1.1% cancel

  • SkyWest Airlines (sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska)56%

    551 flights · 55% on time as flown · 2.2% cancel

On time by departure time

All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.

  • Before 9 AM74%

    516 flights · avg delay 21 min

  • 9 AM to noon54%

    245 flights · avg delay 29 min

  • Noon to 3 PM62%

    362 flights · avg delay 30 min

  • 3 to 6 PM75%

    108 flights · avg delay 12 min

  • 6 to 9 PM56%

    350 flights · avg delay 35 min

Best day: Tuesday (75%). Worst: Monday (68%).

On time by month

All airlines, Jun 2023 to May 2026. Several years per month, so one stormy season doesn't define a month. Travel-month estimates use this seasonal pattern.

J
80
F
62
M
69
A
56
M
60
J
74
J
72
A
79
S
82
O
77
N
65
D
73

What delays this route

  • Air traffic control and airport volume52%
  • Late-arriving aircraft24%
  • Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)21%
  • Severe weather3%

Share of delay minutes by the cause airlines report to the US DOT.

Historical odds, not a guarantee. Built from the US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics on-time reports (Jun 2025 to May 2026), FAA ground stop and delay program advisories, and 20 years of airport weather observations. Covers US airlines that report to the DOT; schedules are flights operated recently, so confirm times when you book. ATIS Alerts is not affiliated with any airline. Fares are what Aviasales travelers saw in recent searches (USD, one way, 1 adult), not live quotes; the partner site shows the current price. Fare links go to our travel partner and may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Affiliate disclosure

Finding the most reliable connections from SBA to SFO…

SBA to SFO questions

What time of day is best to fly SBA to SFO?
3 to 6 PM: 75% of flights arrived on time, against 54% for departures 9 AM to noon.
Which airline is most on time from SBA to SFO?
United, with a season-adjusted 68% chance of operating and arriving on time over 1,030 flights. The adjustment compares each airline with what the route did in the months it flew, so a carrier that skipped a stormy month gets no free credit.
What is the worst month for delays on SBA to SFO?
April (56% on time); the best was September (82%), averaged over Jun 2023 to May 2026.
Is this a prediction for my flight?
No. These are historical odds from the US DOT on-time reports, FAA advisories and airport weather records. Check your flight status and the FAA delay board on the day you fly.

More routes from SBA

Live status: FAA delays and ground stops