84% of flights from Sacramento to Ontario arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is better than the typical U.S. route. The 6 a.m. departures ran on time 94% of the time; the 4 p.m. ones 73%. 5% 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 SMF → ONT: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 64% of the time. About 1 in 23 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 301 three hours or more; 0.3% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early84%
- 15–30 min late7.3%
- 30–60 min late4.3%
- 1–2 hours late3.0%
- 2–3 hours late1.0%
- 3+ hours late0.3%
- Diverted0.1%
- Cancelled0.3%
Share of all 2,108 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 2,108 | 84% | 0.3% | −7 min | 4.4% | +51 min | Southwest Airlines |
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 SMF). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
Last flight of the day
On SMF → ONT, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 0.5% of the time, against 0.2% for its earlier flights (2.4× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 1.1% of the time (earlier flights: 0.2%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 8:45 p.m. | 0.5% | 1.1% | 0.2% | first flight 6:20 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.
If you need to be in ONT tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: January (91%). Worst: June (76%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 349 | 84% | 0.3% |
| Tuesday | 305 | 88% | 0.0% |
| Wednesday | 302 | 85% | 0.3% |
| Thursday | 338 | 80% | 0.6% |
| Friday | 342 | 82% | 0.3% |
| Saturday | 180 | 84% | 0.6% |
| Sunday | 292 | 83% | 0.0% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: airline 4 · weather 2
Month by month
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 15, 2026 | 7 | 14% | 1 |
| Dec 30, 2025 | 6 | 17% | 0 |
| Dec 20, 2025 | 4 | 25% | 0 |
| Dec 27, 2025 | 4 | 25% | 0 |
| Jan 17, 2026 | 3 | 33% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Sacramento or Ontario. None has been clearly more reliable than SMF → ONT.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMF → ONT (this route) | 2,108 | 84% | 0.3% |
| SMF → LGB Sacramento to Long Beach | 1,852 | 85% | 0.3% |
| SMF → LAX Sacramento to Los Angeles LAX | 5,717 | 85% | 0.4% |
| SMF → SNA Sacramento to Orange County John Wayne | 2,288 | 84% | 0.3% |
| SMF → BUR Sacramento to Hollywood Burbank | 2,596 | 83% | 1.7% |
Questions
How often are flights from SMF to ONT on time?
84% of 2,108 scheduled flights from Sacramento, CA to Ontario, CA arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 0.3% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly SMF to ONT?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (94% on time). The 4 p.m. departures were the least (73%).
What month has the most delays from SMF to ONT?
June (76% on time). The best month is January (91%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from SMF to ONT more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last SMF–ONT flight of the day was cancelled 0.5% of the time over the past year, against 0.2% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- ONT → SMF (return)
- Sacramento (SMF) delays by hour
- Flights into Ontario (ONT)
- Southwest 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.