88% of flights from Portland to Salt Lake City arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is better than the typical U.S. route. The 5 a.m. departures ran on time 97% of the time; the 1 p.m. ones 85%. Most reliable airline: Delta Air Lines (89%). 5% of flights arrived more than an hour late or not at all.
How late?
The on-time rate treats a flight 20 minutes late the same as one 5 hours late. Here's the split for PDX → SLC: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 56% of the time. About 1 in 29 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 216 three hours or more; 1.1% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early88%
- 15–30 min late4.3%
- 30–60 min late2.9%
- 1–2 hours late1.9%
- 2–3 hours late1.1%
- 3+ hours late0.5%
- Diverted0.1%
- Cancelled1.1%
Share of all 2,586 scheduled flights, past 12 months, by arrival time against schedule.
By airline
| Airline | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | 1h+ late | Avg when late | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 1,696 | 89% | 1.5% | −11 min | 3.1% | +61 min | Delta Air Lines |
| Alaska Airlines | 864 | 86% | 0.4% | −7 min | 4.1% | +63 min | SkyWest 71%, Horizon Air 23%, Alaska Airlines 5% |
| Frontier Airlines | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | Frontier Airlines |
Airline = the name on the ticket. Regional flights (e.g. "Delta Connection") count under the ticketing airline, and the operator is listed.
Best time of day to fly
On-time rate by scheduled departure hour (local time at PDX). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Delta Air Lines | Alaska Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| 5 a.m. | 97% | — |
| 7 a.m. | — | 85% |
| 9 a.m. | 90% | — |
| 10 a.m. | — | 90% |
| 1 p.m. | 85% | — |
| 2 p.m. | — | 91% |
| 5 p.m. | 88% | 77% |
| 7 p.m. | 87% | — |
Last flight of the day
On PDX → SLC, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 1.4% of the time, against 1.0% for its earlier flights (1.5× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 0.7% of the time (earlier flights: 0.3%). It matters more than the numbers suggest. Miss an earlier flight and there's another one that evening; miss the last one and you're usually waiting until morning.
| Airline | Last departure | Last: cancelled | Last: 3h+ late | Earlier: cancelled | Next morning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines | 5:40 p.m. | 0.6% | 0.9% | 0.2% | first flight 10:45 a.m. |
| Delta Air Lines | 7:00 p.m. | 2.2% | 0.5% | 1.3% | first flight 5:45 a.m. |
Last flight = the airline's last scheduled departure on this route that day, on days it flies the route at least twice; past 12 months. Times are typical scheduled times over the latest three months.
If you need to be in SLC tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: May (92%). Worst: July (82%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 398 | 87% | 0.5% |
| Tuesday | 361 | 93% | 1.1% |
| Wednesday | 356 | 92% | 0.6% |
| Thursday | 373 | 87% | 0.5% |
| Friday | 390 | 89% | 0.8% |
| Saturday | 329 | 84% | 1.8% |
| Sunday | 379 | 84% | 2.4% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: airline 25 · air traffic/airport 3
Month by month
Flight numbers on this route
Regular flights with at least 120 scheduled trips in the past year. Sorted by departure time.
| Flight | Departs | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL 1270 | 5:45 a.m. | 365 | 97% | 0.3% | −11 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 1203 | 9:45 a.m. | 251 | 88% | 3.2% | −10 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 1209 | 1:45 p.m. | 363 | 85% | 1.4% | −8 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 1244 | 5:05 p.m. | 251 | 88% | 0.4% | −11 min | Delta Air Lines |
| AS 3291 | 5:40 p.m. | 199 | 80% | 0.5% | −5 min | SkyWest |
| DL 1238 | 7:20 p.m. | 148 | 84% | 5.4% | −11 min | Delta Air Lines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 18, 2026 | 6 | 17% | 1 |
| Jul 6, 2026 | 8 | 50% | 0 |
| Aug 29, 2026 | 6 | 50% | 0 |
| Oct 11, 2025 | 6 | 50% | 0 |
| May 16, 2026 | 6 | 50% | 0 |
Questions
How often are flights from PDX to SLC on time?
88% of 2,586 scheduled flights from Portland, OR to Salt Lake City, UT arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.1% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly PDX to SLC?
Flights scheduled to leave at 5 a.m. were the most reliable (97% on time). The 1 p.m. departures were the least (85%).
Which airline is most on time from PDX to SLC?
Delta Air Lines: 89% of its 1,696 flights on the route arrived on time. Alaska Airlines: 86%.
What month has the most delays from PDX to SLC?
July (82% on time). The best month is May (92%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from PDX to SLC more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last PDX–SLC flight of the day was cancelled 1.4% of the time over the past year, against 1.0% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- SLC → PDX (return)
- Portland (PDX) delays by hour
- Flights into Salt Lake City (SLC)
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- Alaska Airlines on-time record
- Frontier Airlines on-time record
- Connecting off this flight? Check the risk
Domestic flights by the airlines that report to the U.S. DOT, plus their regional partners. "On time" means arriving less than 15 minutes after schedule; cancelled and diverted flights count as not on time. Past performance is a guide, not a forecast. Method.