Best Time to Fly ORD to SMF: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Chicago O'Hare International → Sacramento International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
1,342 flights were scheduled from Chicago (ORD) to Sacramento (SMF) in the last 12 months, and 67.5% of those that flew arrived on time, 10.1 points below the US average of 77.6%.
Among 2 airlines, United Airlines led with 69.6% on time and American Airlines was last with 61.7%.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (79% on time) and March the worst month (65%).
The cancellation rate was 1.6% (US average 1.8%).
ORD 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 | 69.6% | 66 min | 1.4% | 988 |
| American Airlines | 61.7% | 65 min | 2.0% | 354 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly ORD to SMF
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 2,540 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8am–9am | 90.8% | 0.0% | 174 |
| 9am–10am | 84.8% | 0.0% | 680 |
| 10am–11am | Limited data | 22 | |
| 11am–12pm | 65.7% | 1.1% | 175 |
| 12pm–1pm | 81.5% | 0.0% | 92 |
| 1pm–2pm | Limited data | 2 | |
| 3pm–4pm | Limited data | 15 | |
| 4pm–5pm | 72.6% | 0.7% | 546 |
| 5pm–6pm | Limited data | 1 | |
| 6pm–7pm | Limited data | 25 | |
| 7pm–8pm | 64.0% | 2.9% | 280 |
| 8pm–9pm | 59.6% | 1.5% | 466 |
| 9pm–10pm | 37.5% | 6.7% | 60 |
| 11pm–12am | Limited data | 2 | |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on ORD 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) | 66.7% | -9.3 pts | 7.1% | 42 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 67.3% | -8.6 pts | 0.0% | 101 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 63.5% | -12.5 pts | 1.7% | 518 |
| All other days | 76.0% | — | 0.8% | 1,879 |
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).