87% of flights from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is better than the typical U.S. route. The 10 p.m. departures ran on time 86% of the time; the noon ones 82%. 6% of flights arrived more than an hour late or not at all.
How late?
The on-time rate treats a flight 20 minutes late the same as one 5 hours late. Here's the split for LAX → SBA: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 51% of the time. About 1 in 23 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 85 three hours or more; 1.0% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early87%
- 15–30 min late3.2%
- 30–60 min late4.0%
- 1–2 hours late2.3%
- 2–3 hours late0.9%
- 3+ hours late1.2%
- Diverted0.4%
- Cancelled1.0%
Share of all 681 scheduled flights, past 12 months, by arrival time against schedule.
By airline
| Airline | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | 1h+ late | Avg when late | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 681 | 87% | 1.0% | −11 min | 4.4% | +105 min | SkyWest |
Airline = the name on the ticket. Regional flights (e.g. "Delta Connection") count under the ticketing airline, and the operator is listed.
Best time of day to fly
On-time rate by scheduled departure hour (local time at LAX). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
Last flight of the day
On LAX → SBA, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 0.6% of the time, against 1.6% for its earlier flights, so here the last flight is actually the safer one. It arrived 3+ hours late 1.3% of the time (earlier flights: 0.0%). It matters more than the numbers suggest. Miss an earlier flight and there's another one that evening; miss the last one and you're usually waiting until morning.
| Airline | Last departure | Last: cancelled | Last: 3h+ late | Earlier: cancelled | Next morning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 10:44 p.m. | 0.6% | 1.3% | 1.6% | first flight 8:15 a.m. |
Last flight = the airline's last scheduled departure on this route that day, on days it flies the route at least twice; past 12 months. Times are typical scheduled times over the latest three months.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: May (91%). Worst: December (78%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 104 | 88% | 1.0% |
| Tuesday | 88 | — | — |
| Wednesday | 97 | — | — |
| Thursday | 101 | 85% | 3.0% |
| Friday | 102 | 84% | 1.0% |
| Saturday | 88 | — | — |
| Sunday | 101 | 80% | 0.0% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: air traffic/airport 5 · weather 2
Month by month
Not enough months with data to draw a trend.
Flight numbers on this route
Regular flights with at least 120 scheduled trips in the past year. Sorted by departure time.
| Flight | Departs | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA 4796 | 10:44 p.m. | 351 | 86% | 0.6% | −10 min | SkyWest |
Questions
How often are flights from LAX to SBA on time?
87% of 681 scheduled flights from Los Angeles, CA to Santa Barbara, CA arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.0% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly LAX to SBA?
Flights scheduled to leave at 10 p.m. were the most reliable (86% on time). The noon departures were the least (82%).
What month has the most delays from LAX to SBA?
December (78% on time). The best month is May (91%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from LAX to SBA more likely to be cancelled?
No, the opposite. Each airline's last LAX–SBA flight of the day was cancelled 0.6% of the time over the past year, against 1.6% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- SBA → LAX (return)
- Los Angeles LAX (LAX) delays by hour
- Flights into Santa Barbara (SBA)
- United Airlines on-time record
- Connecting off this flight? Check the risk
Domestic flights by the airlines that report to the U.S. DOT, plus their regional partners. "On time" means arriving less than 15 minutes after schedule; cancelled and diverted flights count as not on time. Past performance is a guide, not a forecast. Method.