71% of flights from Santa Ana to New York arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 1 p.m. departures ran on time 72% of the time; the 11 a.m. ones 60%. Most reliable airline: Delta Air Lines (85%). 16% 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 SNA → JFK: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 47% of the time. About 1 in 9 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 38 three hours or more; 2.8% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early71%
- 15–30 min late7.1%
- 30–60 min late5.5%
- 1–2 hours late5.1%
- 2–3 hours late3.2%
- 3+ hours late2.6%
- Diverted2.2%
- Cancelled2.8%
Share of all 493 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 376 | 67% | 2.4% | −6 min | 13.8% | +107 min | American Airlines |
| Delta Air Lines | 117 | 85% | 4.3% | −19 min | 1.7% | +174 min | Delta Air Lines |
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 SNA). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | American Airlines |
|---|---|
| 11 a.m. | 60% |
| 1 p.m. | 72% |
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: May (73%). Worst: July (60%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 72 | — | — |
| Tuesday | 69 | — | — |
| Wednesday | 69 | — | — |
| Thursday | 69 | — | — |
| Friday | 71 | — | — |
| Saturday | 72 | — | — |
| Sunday | 71 | — | — |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 12 · airline 2
Month by month
Not enough months with data to draw a trend.
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Santa Ana or New York. LAX → EWR has been 5 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| SNA → JFK (this route) | 493 | 71% | 2.8% |
| LAX → EWR Los Angeles LAX to Newark | 4,748 | 77% | 2.1% |
| SNA → EWR Orange County John Wayne to Newark | 1,091 | 76% | 2.1% |
| LAX → JFK Los Angeles LAX to New York JFK | 10,289 | 75% | 2.9% |
Questions
How often are flights from SNA to JFK on time?
71% of 493 scheduled flights from Santa Ana, CA to New York, NY arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 2.8% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly SNA to JFK?
Flights scheduled to leave at 1 p.m. were the most reliable (72% on time). The 11 a.m. departures were the least (60%).
Which airline is most on time from SNA to JFK?
Delta Air Lines: 85% of its 117 flights on the route arrived on time. American Airlines: 67%.
What month has the most delays from SNA to JFK?
July (60% on time). The best month is May (73%), over 2023–2026.
Related
- JFK → SNA (return)
- Orange County John Wayne (SNA) delays by hour
- Flights into New York JFK (JFK)
- American Airlines on-time record
- Delta Air Lines 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.