Best Time to Fly SMF to ATL: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Sacramento International → Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
1,010 flights were scheduled from Sacramento (SMF) to Atlanta (ATL) in the last 12 months, and 92.8% of those that flew arrived on time, 15.2 points above the US average of 77.6%.
Delta Air Lines was the only reporting airline with regular flights on this route.
February has been the best month (96% on time) and Saturday the weakest day of the week (88%).
1.4% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
SMF to ATL 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 | 92.8% | 94 min | 1.4% | 1,010 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly SMF to ATL
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 2,017 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | 89.5% | 0.0% | 86 |
| 7am–8am | 91.8% | 0.9% | 644 |
| 12pm–1pm | 89.3% | 1.8% | 728 |
| 2pm–3pm | Limited data | 2 | |
| 10pm–11pm | 92.9% | 0.6% | 511 |
| 11pm–12am | 93.5% | 0.0% | 46 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on SMF to ATL
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) | 81.1% | -11.0 pts | 2.6% | 38 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 88.9% | -3.2 pts | 0.0% | 82 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 88.5% | -3.5 pts | 0.8% | 355 |
| All other days | 92.1% | — | 1.2% | 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).