Route on-time record
SMF to DFW: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Sacramento (Sacramento International Airport) to Dallas-Fort Worth (Dallas Fort Worth International Airport). 1,671 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 80% arrived within 15 minutes and 2.4% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was American 1544 at 6:00 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
SMF → DFW
Sacramento to Dallas-Fort Worth: 1,671 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
80%
Cancelled
2.4%
avg delay 19 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
86% on time vs 68% noon to 3 PM
Most reliable airline
American
78% chance on time
Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $276 (American 1544 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 · American 1544
6:00 AM → 11:27 AM3h 27m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
88%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 90%
- Cancelled
- 1.9%
- Avg arrival delay
- 12 min
- Arrived on time 90% of the time (354 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 86% on time; Noon to 3 PM: 68%).
Strong track record · 354 flights
Find American 1544 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · American 1021
8:17 AM → 1:43 PM3h 26m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as American 1609; its record covers all of them.
81%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 83%
- Cancelled
- 2.2%
- Avg arrival delay
- 21 min
- Arrived on time 83% of the time (353 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 86% on time; Noon to 3 PM: 68%).
- Lands inside DFW's trouble window: 53% of its 139 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
Strong track record · 353 flights
Find American 1021 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · American 2891
11:38 AM → 5:05 PM3h 27m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
76%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 78%
- Cancelled
- 2.3%
- Avg arrival delay
- 16 min
- Arrived on time 78% of the time (41 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Lands inside DFW's trouble window: 53% of its 139 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- Short track record (41 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 41 flights
Find American 2891 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · American 2192
11:31 AM → 4:54 PM3h 23m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
76%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 80%
- Cancelled
- 2.2%
- Avg arrival delay
- 15 min
- Arrived on time 80% of the time (177 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Lands inside DFW's trouble window: 53% of its 139 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
Moderate track record · 177 flights
Find American 2192 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · American 3314
11:42 PM → 5:00 AM3h 18m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as American 1536; its record covers all of them.
74%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 74%
- Cancelled
- 4.2%
- Avg arrival delay
- 22 min
- Arrived on time 74% of the time (160 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 4.2% of the time (7 of 167).
Moderate track record · 160 flights
Find American 3314 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · American 2633
11:02 AM → 4:35 PM3h 33m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-30.
74%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 50%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 14 min
- Arrived on time 50% of the time (6 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Lands inside DFW's trouble window: 53% of its 139 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- Short track record (6 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 6 flights
Find American 2633 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · American 2078
2:10 PM → 7:38 PM3h 28m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
68%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 72%
- Cancelled
- 2.9%
- Avg arrival delay
- 24 min
- Arrived on time 72% of the time (231 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (Noon to 3 PM: 68% on time; Before 9 AM: 86%).
Strong track record · 231 flights
Find American 2078 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · American 2634
2:31 PM → 8:04 PM3h 33m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as American 2899; its record covers all of them.
68%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 69%
- Cancelled
- 3.7%
- Avg arrival delay
- 34 min
- Arrived on time 69% of the time (52 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 3.7% of the time (2 of 54).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (Noon to 3 PM: 68% on time; Before 9 AM: 86%).
- Short track record (52 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 52 flights
Find American 2634 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- American Airlines78%
1,671 flights · 80% on time as flown · 2.4% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM86%
729 flights · avg delay 16 min
- 9 AM to noon78%
360 flights · avg delay 17 min
- Noon to 3 PM68%
321 flights · avg delay 28 min
- After 9 PM76%
224 flights · avg delay 21 min
Best day: Wednesday (82%). Worst: Sunday (77%).
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 aircraft44%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)37%
- Air traffic control and airport volume15%
- Severe weather4%
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 DFW questions
- What time of day is best to fly SMF to DFW?
- Before 9 AM: 86% of flights arrived on time, against 68% 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 SMF to DFW?
- American, with a season-adjusted 78% chance of operating and arriving on time over 1,671 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 DFW?
- July (68% on time); the best was February (88%), 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
- DFW 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