SkyWest vs Southwest: On-Time Performance Compared

Last 12 months · Aug 2025 – Jul 2026

Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026

SkyWest was more punctual than Southwest over the last 12 months: 79.0% of its flights arrived on time, against 76.4%.

Southwest cancelled fewer flights (0.9% vs 1.8%), and late flights averaged 88 minutes late on SkyWest vs 53 on Southwest.

On the 204 routes both airlines fly regularly, SkyWest had the better on-time record on 173 and Southwest on 31.

SkyWest vs Southwest: key numbers

Last 12 months, all flights each airline operated.

SkyWestSouthwest

On-time arrivals79.0%76.4%

On-time departures80.9%71.8%

Cancelled1.8%0.9%

Diverted0.3%0.2%

On-time arrival % each month, last 24 months.

SkyWestSouthwest

60%70%80%90%

Aug ’24Nov ’24Feb ’25May ’25Aug ’25Nov ’25Feb ’26May ’26

Share of each airline’s reported delay minutes by cause, last 12 months.

SkyWestSouthwest

Airline (carrier)47.0%28.4%

Weather14.0%2.3%

Air traffic system (NAS)17.2%17.9%

Security0.1%0.3%

Late-arriving aircraft21.7%51.1%

204 routes where each airline had at least 100 completed flights in the last 12 months; the 25 busiest are shown. Better on-time rate in bold.

Route	SkyWest on time	Southwest on time	SkyWest flights	Southwest flights
SMF → LAX	89.7%	76.9%	3,509	1,631
LAX → SMF	87.5%	79.1%	3,509	1,629
LAS → SAN	73.8%	61.1%	1,322	3,765
SAN → LAS	79.3%	73.9%	1,321	3,747
SMF → SAN	77.7%	69.6%	1,160	3,804
SAN → SMF	80.4%	74.7%	1,158	3,800
SJC → SAN	75.3%	69.0%	1,159	3,740
SAN → SJC	81.2%	75.0%	1,126	3,746
LAX → PHX	87.2%	74.0%	2,638	2,007
PHX → LAX	89.8%	71.2%	2,638	1,983
COS → DEN	83.0%	76.8%	3,300	1,129
DEN → COS	76.8%	74.4%	3,300	1,129
LAX → SFO	69.2%	53.9%	2,573	1,426
SFO → LAX	75.3%	59.8%	2,568	1,425
SJC → LAX	92.3%	77.7%	1,953	1,844
LAX → SJC	91.0%	81.5%	1,949	1,844
LAS → SMF	90.3%	77.5%	314	3,452
SMF → LAS	92.5%	78.8%	313	3,444
PHX → SAN	67.5%	70.3%	508	3,219
DEN → SLC	80.5%	72.8%	1,399	2,307
SAN → PHX	65.8%	73.2%	507	3,197
SLC → DEN	85.3%	72.8%	1,394	2,306
SAN → SFO	65.2%	55.4%	1,517	2,001
SFO → SAN	63.5%	50.5%	1,477	2,001
LAS → SJC	81.3%	78.2%	171	3,275