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Route on-time record

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

San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport) to Santa Ana (John Wayne Orange County International Airport). 4,749 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 81% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.2% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was United 589 at 7:10 PM.

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

SFO → SNA

San Francisco to Santa Ana: 4,749 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

81%

Cancelled

1.2%

avg delay 12 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

90% on time vs 77% noon to 3 PM

Most reliable airline

Alaska

84% chance on time

Check SFO to SNA fares

Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $40 (Frontier 3582 on 2026-11-16). 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 589

    7:10 PM → 8:55 PM1h 50m nonstop

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

    91%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    91%
    Cancelled
    0.3%
    Avg arrival delay
    4 min
    • Arrived on time 91% of the time (321 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside SFO's trouble window (7 AM to 1 PM, when 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Strong track record · 321 flights

    Find United 589 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  2. #2 · SkyWest 5236 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska

    7:15 AM → 9:02 AM1h 47m nonstop

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

    90%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    91%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    12 min
    • Arrived on time 91% of the time (11 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 90% on time; Noon to 3 PM: 77%).
    • Departs inside SFO's trouble window: 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
    • Short track record (11 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 11 flights

    Find 7:15 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  3. #3 · United 2441

    12:25 PM → 2:08 PM1h 43m nonstop

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

    89%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    87%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    5 min
    • Arrived on time 87% of the time (53 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 53 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's least on-time window (Noon to 3 PM: 77% on time; Before 9 AM: 90%).
    • Departs inside SFO's trouble window: 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.

    Limited track record · 53 flights

    Find United 2441 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  4. #4 · SkyWest 3440 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska

    6:50 AM → 8:35 AM1h 45m nonstop

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

    88%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    92%
    Cancelled
    3.7%
    Avg arrival delay
    5 min
    • Arrived on time 92% of the time (182 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 3.7% of the time (7 of 189).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 90% on time; Noon to 3 PM: 77%).
    • Departs outside SFO's trouble window (7 AM to 1 PM, when 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Moderate track record · 182 flights

    Find 6:50 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  5. #5 · SkyWest 5937 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska

    8:25 AM → 10:19 AM1h 53m nonstop

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

    87%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    89%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    11 min
    • Arrived on time 89% of the time (282 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 283 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 90% on time; Noon to 3 PM: 77%).
    • Departs inside SFO's trouble window: 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.

    Strong track record · 282 flights

    Find 8:25 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  6. #6 · United 571

    12:00 PM → 1:45 PM1h 45m nonstop

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

    85%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    80%
    Cancelled
    9.1%
    Avg arrival delay
    8 min
    • Arrived on time 80% of the time (10 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's least on-time window (Noon to 3 PM: 77% on time; Before 9 AM: 90%).
    • Departs inside SFO's trouble window: 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
    • Short track record (10 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 10 flights

    Find United 571 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  7. #7 · SkyWest 3450 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska

    9:13 AM → 10:55 AM1h 43m nonstop

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

    84%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    86%
    Cancelled
    0.7%
    Avg arrival delay
    9 min
    • Arrived on time 86% of the time (293 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs inside SFO's trouble window: 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.

    Strong track record · 293 flights

    Find 9:13 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  8. #8 · SkyWest 3416 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska

    8:51 PM → 10:30 PM1h 39m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-29. Same departure also flew as SkyWest 3365, 3380; its record covers all of them.

    83%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    87%
    Cancelled
    5.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    4 min
    • Arrived on time 87% of the time (208 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Cancelled 5.0% of the time (11 of 220).
    • Departs outside SFO's trouble window (7 AM to 1 PM, when 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Strong track record · 208 flights

    Find 8:51 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  9. #9 · SkyWest 3444 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska

    9:26 AM → 11:11 AM1h 45m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-12.

    82%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    75%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    16 min
    • Arrived on time 75% of the time (16 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs inside SFO's trouble window: 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
    • 68% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
    • Short track record (16 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 16 flights

    Find 9:26 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  10. #10 · SkyWest 3404 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska

    11:40 AM → 1:23 PM1h 43m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-30.

    80%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    81%
    Cancelled
    2.3%
    Avg arrival delay
    11 min
    • Arrived on time 81% of the time (86 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs inside SFO's trouble window: 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.

    Moderate track record · 86 flights

    Find 11:40 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

  • Alaska Airlines84%

    79 flights · 87% on time as flown · 0.8% cancel

  • United Airlines84%

    1,011 flights · 84% on time as flown · 0.6% cancel

  • SkyWest Airlines (sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska)79%

    3,517 flights · 81% on time as flown · 1.4% cancel

  • Frontier Airlines72%

    142 flights · 68% on time as flown · 1.3% cancel

On time by departure time

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

  • Before 9 AM90%

    745 flights · avg delay 7 min

  • 9 AM to noon79%

    1,162 flights · avg delay 13 min

  • Noon to 3 PM77%

    1,027 flights · avg delay 15 min

  • 3 to 6 PM77%

    1,039 flights · avg delay 15 min

  • 6 to 9 PM86%

    776 flights · avg delay 6 min

Best day: Tuesday (86%). Worst: Sunday (77%).

Smarter routing

Nearby airports that run more on time

  • SJC → LAX 87% chance on time

    Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport · 4,405 flights a year · 66 mi from your airports · yours: 80%

    Rank flightsFares

  • SJC → SNA 87% chance on time

    Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport to John Wayne Orange County International Airport · 2,679 flights a year · 30 mi from your airports · yours: 80%

    Rank flightsFares

  • OAK → LGB 86% chance on time

    Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport to Long Beach International Airport · 1,649 flights a year · 30 mi from your airports · yours: 80%

    Rank flightsFares

  • OAK → SNA 86% chance on time

    Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport to John Wayne Orange County International Airport · 2,387 flights a year · 11 mi from your airports · yours: 80%

    Rank flightsFares

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
84
F
78
M
79
A
76
M
77
J
80
J
81
A
86
S
85
O
83
N
81
D
81

What delays this route

  • Late-arriving aircraft41%
  • Air traffic control and airport volume30%
  • Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)24%
  • Severe weather5%

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

SFO to SNA questions

What time of day is best to fly SFO to SNA?
Before 9 AM: 90% of flights arrived on time, against 77% for departures noon to 3 PM. Later flights inherit delays from earlier ones, so the first departures of the day usually run best.
Which airline is most on time from SFO to SNA?
Alaska, with a season-adjusted 84% chance of operating and arriving on time over 79 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 SFO to SNA?
April (76% on time); the best was August (86%), 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 SFO

Live status: FAA delays and ground stops