Best Time to Fly IAD to SMF: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Washington Dulles International → Sacramento International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 81.4% of Washington (IAD) to Sacramento (SMF) flights arrived on time (365 scheduled flights). That is 3.8 points above the national average of 77.6%.
United Airlines was the only reporting airline with regular flights on this route.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (82% on time) and July the worst month (56%).
The cancellation rate was 1.4% (US average 1.8%).
IAD 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 81.4% | 56 min | 1.4% | 365 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly IAD to SMF
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 730 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5pm–6pm | 79.4% | 1.4% | 511 |
| 6pm–7pm | 59.4% | 0.0% | 96 |
| 7pm–8pm | 87.0% | 0.0% | 123 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on IAD 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) | Limited data | 14 | ||
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 76.7% | -4.5 pts | 0.0% | 30 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 62.6% | -18.5 pts | 0.8% | 124 |
| All other days | 81.1% | — | 1.1% | 562 |
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).