79% of flights from Phoenix to Santa Ana arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is about the typical U.S. route. The 7 a.m. departures ran on time 93% of the time; the 4 p.m. ones 66%. Most reliable airline: Frontier Airlines (86%). 6% 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 → SNA: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 65% of the time. About 1 in 19 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 155 three hours or more; 0.5% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early79%
- 15–30 min late9.0%
- 30–60 min late6.2%
- 1–2 hours late3.7%
- 2–3 hours late0.9%
- 3+ hours late0.6%
- Diverted0.2%
- Cancelled0.5%
Share of all 4,643 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 2,412 | 78% | 0.4% | −4 min | 4.1% | +45 min | Southwest Airlines |
| American Airlines | 1,950 | 79% | 0.4% | −5 min | 6.8% | +66 min | American Airlines |
| Frontier Airlines | 281 | 86% | 1.1% | −12 min | 3.6% | +54 min | 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 PHX). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Southwest Airlines | American Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| 7 a.m. | 94% | 92% |
| 8 a.m. | 90% | 84% |
| 9 a.m. | 86% | — |
| 10 a.m. | 87% | 80% |
| 11 a.m. | 85% | 76% |
| noon | 73% | — |
| 1 p.m. | 80% | — |
| 2 p.m. | 77% | 76% |
| 3 p.m. | 77% | — |
| 4 p.m. | 64% | — |
| 5 p.m. | 68% | 77% |
| 6 p.m. | 58% | — |
| 7 p.m. | 66% | — |
| 8 p.m. | 80% | — |
| 9 p.m. | 77% | 78% |
Last flight of the day
On PHX → SNA, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 0.9% of the time, against 0.4% for its earlier flights (2.6× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 0.5% of the time (earlier flights: 0.7%). 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 | 9:02 p.m. | 0.8% | 1.1% | 0.3% | first flight 7:32 a.m. |
| Southwest Airlines | 8:55 p.m. | 0.5% | 0.0% | 0.4% | first flight 7:10 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 SNA tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: February (85%). Worst: July (75%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 755 | 78% | 0.8% |
| Tuesday | 569 | 83% | 0.2% |
| Wednesday | 592 | 82% | 0.5% |
| Thursday | 734 | 77% | 0.1% |
| Friday | 732 | 80% | 0.7% |
| Saturday | 531 | 83% | 0.0% |
| Sunday | 730 | 72% | 0.7% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 10 · air traffic/airport 6 · airline 5
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F9 4957 | 12:20 p.m. | 122 | 80% | 1.6% | −11 min | Frontier Airlines |
| AA 2637 | 9:02 p.m. | 265 | 80% | 0.8% | −3 min | American Airlines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 12, 2025 | 14 | 21% | 0 |
| Nov 10, 2025 | 15 | 33% | 2 |
| Oct 13, 2025 | 14 | 36% | 0 |
| Jun 20, 2026 | 11 | 36% | 0 |
| Dec 19, 2025 | 13 | 38% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Phoenix or Santa Ana. None has been clearly more reliable than PHX → SNA.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHX → SNA (this route) | 4,643 | 79% | 0.4% |
| PHX → LAX Phoenix Sky Harbor to Los Angeles LAX | 7,586 | 82% | 0.7% |
| PHX → CLD Phoenix Sky Harbor to McClellan-Palomar | 908 | 81% | 1.2% |
| PHX → BUR Phoenix Sky Harbor to Hollywood Burbank | 3,147 | 79% | 0.7% |
| PHX → LGB Phoenix Sky Harbor to Long Beach | 1,516 | 79% | 0.5% |
| PHX → ONT Phoenix Sky Harbor to Ontario | 3,012 | 76% | 0.5% |
Questions
How often are flights from PHX to SNA on time?
79% of 4,643 scheduled flights from Phoenix, AZ to Santa Ana, CA arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 0.4% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly PHX to SNA?
Flights scheduled to leave at 7 a.m. were the most reliable (93% on time). The 4 p.m. departures were the least (66%).
Which airline is most on time from PHX to SNA?
Frontier Airlines: 86% of its 281 flights on the route arrived on time. Southwest Airlines: 78%. American Airlines: 79%.
What month has the most delays from PHX to SNA?
July (75% on time). The best month is February (85%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from PHX to SNA more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last PHX–SNA flight of the day was cancelled 0.9% of the time over the past year, against 0.4% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- SNA → PHX (return)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) delays by hour
- Flights into Orange County John Wayne (SNA)
- Southwest Airlines on-time record
- American 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.