Best Time to Fly SMF to SNA: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Sacramento International → John Wayne Airport-Orange County
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
2,310 flights were scheduled from Sacramento (SMF) to Santa Ana (SNA) in the last 12 months, and 84.4% of those that flew arrived on time, 6.8 points above the US average of 77.6%.
Southwest Airlines was the only reporting airline with regular flights on this route.
Over 24 months, Wednesday was the most reliable day (90% on time) and October the worst month (80%).
The cancellation rate was 0.3% (US average 1.8%).
SMF to SNA on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 84.4% | 43 min | 0.3% | 2,310 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly SMF to SNA
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 4,559 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | 96.5% | 0.4% | 258 |
| 7am–8am | 94.6% | 0.5% | 393 |
| 8am–9am | 92.0% | 0.3% | 312 |
| 9am–10am | 93.5% | 0.0% | 309 |
| 10am–11am | 91.0% | 1.6% | 191 |
| 11am–12pm | 86.8% | 1.0% | 298 |
| 12pm–1pm | 82.1% | 0.4% | 247 |
| 1pm–2pm | 78.9% | 0.9% | 321 |
| 2pm–3pm | 83.0% | 0.7% | 284 |
| 3pm–4pm | 85.5% | 0.0% | 193 |
| 4pm–5pm | 75.3% | 0.2% | 431 |
| 5pm–6pm | 81.9% | 0.0% | 193 |
| 6pm–7pm | 76.7% | 0.7% | 411 |
| 7pm–8pm | 86.7% | 0.0% | 309 |
| 8pm–9pm | 83.5% | 1.0% | 409 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on SMF to SNA
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | 86.0% | -0.2 pts | 0.0% | 86 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 73.3% | -13.0 pts | 0.5% | 190 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 84.4% | -1.9 pts | 1.4% | 832 |
| All other days | 86.3% | — | 0.3% | 3,451 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).