Best Time to Fly MSP to SMF: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Minneapolis-St Paul International → Sacramento International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
591 flights were scheduled from Minneapolis (MSP) to Sacramento (SMF) in the last 12 months, and 82.7% of those that flew arrived on time, 5.0 points above the US average of 77.6%.
Delta Air Lines was the only reporting airline with regular flights on this route.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (87% on time) and December the worst month (69%).
The cancellation rate was 0.5% (US average 1.8%).
MSP 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 | 82.7% | 54 min | 0.5% | 591 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly MSP to SMF
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 1,156 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9am–10am | 90.0% | 0.0% | 100 |
| 10am–11am | 85.6% | 0.8% | 119 |
| 11am–12pm | 92.8% | 0.0% | 209 |
| 12pm–1pm | Limited data | 2 | |
| 6pm–7pm | 76.9% | 0.3% | 587 |
| 7pm–8pm | 87.1% | 0.0% | 31 |
| 8pm–9pm | Limited data | 9 | |
| 9pm–10pm | 73.2% | 0.0% | 82 |
| 10pm–11pm | Limited data | 17 | |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on MSP 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 | 24 | ||
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 57.1% | -27.0 pts | 3.5% | 58 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 82.3% | -1.8 pts | 0.0% | 243 |
| All other days | 84.1% | — | 0.1% | 831 |
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).