Route on-time record
SMF to DAL: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Sacramento (Sacramento International Airport) to Dallas (Dallas Love Field). 661 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 75% arrived within 15 minutes and 0.6% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Southwest 1290 at 5:00 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
SMF → DAL
Sacramento to Dallas: 661 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
75%
Cancelled
0.6%
avg delay 13 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
94% on time vs 49% 3 to 6 PM
Most reliable airline
Southwest
75% chance on time
Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $358 (Southwest 2876 on 2026-10-18). 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 · Southwest 1290
5:00 AM → 10:15 AM3h 15m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
85%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 83%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 9 min
- Arrived on time 83% of the time (47 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 47 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 94% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 49%).
- Lands inside DAL's trouble window: 67% of its 42 ground stops and delay programs started between 10 AM and 4 PM.
Limited track record · 47 flights
Find Southwest 1290 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · Southwest 3850
6:35 AM → 11:50 AM3h 15m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
85%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 100%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 1 min
- Arrived on time 100% of the time (16 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 94% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 49%).
- Lands inside DAL's trouble window: 67% of its 42 ground stops and delay programs started between 10 AM and 4 PM.
- Short track record (16 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 16 flights
Find Southwest 3850 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · Southwest 2395
2:55 PM → 8:15 PM3h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-29.
72%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 77%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 13 min
- Arrived on time 77% of the time (22 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Short track record (22 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 22 flights
Find Southwest 2395 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · Southwest 3243
1:05 PM → 6:25 PM3h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-30.
59%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 57%
- Cancelled
- 4.2%
- Avg arrival delay
- 24 min
- Arrived on time 57% of the time (23 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Short track record (23 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 23 flights
Find Southwest 3243 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- Southwest Airlines75%
661 flights · 75% on time as flown · 0.6% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM94%
332 flights · avg delay 3 min
- 9 AM to noon71%
49 flights · avg delay 12 min
- Noon to 3 PM54%
150 flights · avg delay 20 min
- 3 to 6 PM49%
104 flights · avg delay 31 min
Best day: Saturday (83%). Worst: Sunday (76%).
Smarter routing
Nearby airports that run more on time
SMF → DFW 78% chance on time
Sacramento International Airport to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport · 1,671 flights a year · 12 mi from your airports · yours: 75%
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.
What delays this route
- Late-arriving aircraft54%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)28%
- Air traffic control and airport volume16%
- Severe weather2%
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
SMF to DAL questions
- What time of day is best to fly SMF to DAL?
- Before 9 AM: 94% of flights arrived on time, against 49% for departures 3 to 6 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 SMF to DAL?
- Southwest, with a season-adjusted 75% chance of operating and arriving on time over 661 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 SMF to DAL?
- June (69% on time); the best was February (92%), 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 SMF
- DAL to SMF (return)
- SMF to LAX 86%
- SMF to SAN 74%
- SMF to SEA 82%
- SMF to LAS 80%
- SMF to DEN 82%
- SMF to PHX 82%
- SMF to BUR 85%
- SMF to SNA 84%
- SMF to SLC 88%
- SMF to ONT 85%
- SMF to PDX 82%
- SMF to LGB 86%
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops