83% of flights from Phoenix to Santa Maria arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is better than the typical U.S. route. 8% 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 PHX → SMX: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 45% of the time. About 1 in 17 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 45 three hours or more; 1.2% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early83%
- 15–30 min late3.2%
- 30–60 min late5.7%
- 1–2 hours late2.0%
- 2–3 hours late1.7%
- 3+ hours late2.2%
- Diverted1.0%
- Cancelled1.2%
Share of all 405 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 405 | 83% | 1.2% | −17 min | 5.9% | +118 min | SkyWest |
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 PHX). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
Last flight of the day
On PHX → SMX, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 2.5% of the time, against 0.0% for its earlier flights, about the same. It arrived 3+ hours late 2.5% of the time (earlier flights: 2.0%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | — | 2.5% | 2.5% | 0.0% | — |
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.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026.
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 58 | — | — |
| Tuesday | 58 | — | — |
| Wednesday | 59 | — | — |
| Thursday | 58 | — | — |
| Friday | 57 | — | — |
| Saturday | 57 | — | — |
| Sunday | 58 | — | — |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 5
Month by month
Not enough months with data to draw a trend.
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Phoenix or Santa Maria. None has been clearly more reliable than PHX → SMX.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHX → SMX (this route) | 405 | 83% | 1.2% |
| PHX → SBP Phoenix Sky Harbor to San Luis | 1,240 | 82% | 0.8% |
| PHX → SBA Phoenix Sky Harbor to Santa Barbara | 1,432 | 81% | 1.0% |
Questions
How often are flights from PHX to SMX on time?
83% of 405 scheduled flights from Phoenix, AZ to Santa Maria, CA arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.2% were cancelled.
Is the last flight of the day from PHX to SMX more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last PHX–SMX flight of the day was cancelled 2.5% of the time over the past year, against 0.0% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- SMX → PHX (return)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) delays by hour
- American 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.