Route on-time record
SNA to SFO: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Santa Ana (John Wayne Orange County International Airport) to San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport). 4,780 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 74% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.5% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was SkyWest 3251 at 6:45 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
SNA → SFO
Santa Ana to San Francisco: 4,780 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
74%
Cancelled
1.5%
avg delay 19 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
83% on time vs 63% 6 to 9 PM
Most reliable airline
Alaska
78% chance on time
Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $69 (Alaska 3493 on 2026-11-17). 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 · SkyWest 3251 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
6:45 AM → 8:26 AM1h 44m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as SkyWest 3434; its record covers all of them.
85%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 87%
- Cancelled
- 2.6%
- Avg arrival delay
- 12 min
- Arrived on time 87% of the time (367 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 83% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 63%).
- Lands inside SFO's trouble window: 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
Strong track record · 367 flights
Find 6:45 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · SkyWest 5309 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
10:05 AM → 11:50 AM1h 45m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-03-28.
81%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 92%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 2 min
- Arrived on time 92% of the time (24 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Lands inside SFO's trouble window: 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
- Short track record (24 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 24 flights
Find 10:05 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · SkyWest 3495 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
4:38 PM → 6:12 PM1h 34m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as SkyWest 3465; its record covers all of them.
79%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 78%
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Avg arrival delay
- 13 min
- Arrived on time 78% of the time (215 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
Strong track record · 215 flights
Find 4:38 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · SkyWest 5351 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
4:24 PM → 6:03 PM1h 40m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
78%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 68%
- Cancelled
- 3.6%
- Avg arrival delay
- 11 min
- Arrived on time 68% of the time (81 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 3.6% of the time (3 of 84).
Moderate track record · 81 flights
Find 4:24 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · United 1604
7:00 AM → 8:31 AM1h 31m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
77%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 73%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 15 min
- Arrived on time 73% of the time (11 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 83% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 63%).
- Lands 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 United 1604 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · SkyWest 5805 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
11:08 AM → 12:50 PM1h 42m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
75%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 75%
- Cancelled
- 0.3%
- Avg arrival delay
- 20 min
- Arrived on time 75% of the time (288 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Lands inside SFO's trouble window: 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
Strong track record · 288 flights
Find 11:08 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · SkyWest 3023 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
1:24 PM → 3:05 PM1h 41m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-03-17.
73%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 79%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 12 min
- Arrived on time 79% of the time (34 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 34 scheduled flights.
- Short track record (34 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 34 flights
Find 1:24 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · SkyWest 3450 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
11:48 AM → 1:29 PM1h 37m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as SkyWest 3305; its record covers all of them.
72%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 73%
- Cancelled
- 0.4%
- Avg arrival delay
- 17 min
- Arrived on time 73% of the time (247 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
Strong track record · 247 flights
Find 11:48 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#9 · SkyWest 3455 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
9:00 PM → 10:41 PM1h 41m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-11.
72%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 50%
- Cancelled
- 6.7%
- Avg arrival delay
- 17 min
- Arrived on time 50% of the time (14 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Short track record (14 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 14 flights
Find 9:00 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#10 · SkyWest 3389 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
12:52 PM → 2:30 PM1h 38m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-12.
71%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 35%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 37 min
- Arrived on time 35% of the time (20 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Short track record (20 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 20 flights
Find 12:52 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- Alaska Airlines78%
80 flights · 87% on time as flown · 1.4% cancel
- SkyWest Airlines (sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska)74%
3,545 flights · 75% on time as flown · 1.6% cancel
- United Airlines70%
1,011 flights · 70% on time as flown · 0.9% cancel
- Frontier Airlines63%
144 flights · 58% on time as flown · 2.5% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM83%
730 flights · avg delay 10 min
- 9 AM to noon73%
977 flights · avg delay 21 min
- Noon to 3 PM72%
731 flights · avg delay 20 min
- 3 to 6 PM80%
1,116 flights · avg delay 13 min
- 6 to 9 PM63%
1,172 flights · avg delay 28 min
Best day: Saturday (81%). Worst: Sunday (63%).
Smarter routing
Nearby airports that run more on time
LGB → OAK 89% chance on time
Long Beach International Airport to Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport · 1,649 flights a year · 30 mi from your airports · yours: 73%
LGB → SJC 87% chance on time
Long Beach International Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport · 1,222 flights a year · 49 mi from your airports · yours: 73%
BUR → SJC 87% chance on time
Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport · 2,218 flights a year · 76 mi from your airports · yours: 73%
LAX → SJC 87% chance on time
Los Angeles International Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport · 4,400 flights a year · 66 mi from your airports · yours: 73%
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
- Air traffic control and airport volume50%
- Late-arriving aircraft26%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)18%
- Severe weather6%
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
SNA to SFO questions
- What time of day is best to fly SNA to SFO?
- Before 9 AM: 83% of flights arrived on time, against 63% for departures 6 to 9 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 SNA to SFO?
- Alaska, with a season-adjusted 78% chance of operating and arriving on time over 80 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 SNA to SFO?
- April (58% on time); the best was August (83%), 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 SNA
- SFO to SNA (return)
- SNA to PHX 82%
- SNA to LAS 83%
- SNA to SEA 85%
- SNA to DEN 82%
- SNA to DFW 79%
- SNA to SJC 87%
- SNA to OAK 85%
- SNA to SMF 85%
- SNA to ORD 77%
- SNA to SLC 87%
- SNA to PDX 93%
- SNA to IAH 88%
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops