Best Time to Fly ATL to SMF: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International → Sacramento International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 82.2% of Atlanta (ATL) to Sacramento (SMF) flights arrived on time (1,010 scheduled flights). That is 4.5 points above the national average of 77.6%.
Delta Air Lines was the only reporting airline with regular flights on this route.
September has been the best month (92% on time) and Monday the weakest day of the week (78%).
1.2% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
ATL to SMF 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 82.2% | 55 min | 1.2% | 1,010 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly ATL to SMF
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 2,017 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8am–9am | 91.3% | 2.1% | 47 |
| 9am–10am | 88.1% | 1.3% | 683 |
| 11am–12pm | Limited data | 2 | |
| 4pm–5pm | 77.0% | 0.0% | 113 |
| 5pm–6pm | 75.6% | 0.0% | 378 |
| 6pm–7pm | 80.7% | 2.2% | 90 |
| 7pm–8pm | 79.5% | 0.0% | 171 |
| 8pm–9pm | 78.3% | 1.2% | 501 |
| 9pm–10pm | 90.6% | 0.0% | 32 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on ATL to SMF
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) | 64.9% | -18.7 pts | 2.6% | 38 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 73.2% | -10.4 pts | 0.0% | 82 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 77.6% | -6.0 pts | 0.8% | 355 |
| All other days | 83.5% | — | 0.9% | 1,542 |
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).