86% of flights from Santa Ana to Salt Lake City arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is better than the typical U.S. route. The 7 a.m. departures ran on time 91% of the time; the 1 p.m. ones 77%. Most reliable airline: Delta Air Lines (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 SNA → SLC: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 45% of the time. About 1 in 18 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 77 three hours or more; 0.7% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early86%
- 15–30 min late4.2%
- 30–60 min late3.8%
- 1–2 hours late2.9%
- 2–3 hours late1.5%
- 3+ hours late1.3%
- Diverted0.1%
- Cancelled0.7%
Share of all 1,859 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 | 1,757 | 86% | 0.7% | −11 min | 5.7% | +99 min | Delta Air Lines 91%, SkyWest 9% |
| Frontier Airlines | 101 | 85% | 1.0% | −12 min | 3.0% | +58 min | Frontier Airlines |
| Allegiant Air | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | Allegiant Air |
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 SNA). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Delta Air Lines |
|---|---|
| 7 a.m. | 91% |
| 9 a.m. | 91% |
| 1 p.m. | 77% |
| 5 p.m. | 83% |
| 7 p.m. | 87% |
Last flight of the day
On SNA → SLC, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 0.5% of the time, against 0.7% for its earlier flights, so here the last flight is actually the safer one. It arrived 3+ hours late 1.1% of the time (earlier flights: 1.5%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 7:10 p.m. | 0.5% | 1.1% | 0.7% | first flight 7:15 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.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: March (91%). Worst: January (81%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 284 | 82% | 0.4% |
| Tuesday | 260 | 90% | 0.8% |
| Wednesday | 257 | 91% | 0.0% |
| Thursday | 277 | 82% | 0.4% |
| Friday | 282 | 87% | 0.7% |
| Saturday | 210 | 90% | 0.0% |
| Sunday | 289 | 80% | 2.4% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: airline 10 · weather 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 1185 | 7:00 a.m. | 365 | 91% | 0.3% | −8 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 1198 | 9:51 a.m. | 348 | 91% | 0.9% | −17 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 1277 | 5:03 p.m. | 334 | 83% | 0.9% | −9 min | Delta Air Lines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 26, 2026 | 5 | 20% | 0 |
| Feb 18, 2026 | 5 | 20% | 0 |
| Jun 25, 2026 | 5 | 20% | 0 |
| Jan 3, 2026 | 4 | 25% | 0 |
| Oct 19, 2025 | 6 | 33% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Santa Ana or Salt Lake City. ONT → SLC has been 5 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| SNA → SLC (this route) | 1,859 | 86% | 0.7% |
| ONT → SLC Ontario to Salt Lake City | 1,239 | 90% | 0.9% |
| BUR → SLC Hollywood Burbank to Salt Lake City | 1,457 | 90% | 0.5% |
| LGB → SLC Long Beach to Salt Lake City | 1,569 | 88% | 0.4% |
| LAX → SLC Los Angeles LAX to Salt Lake City | 4,195 | 87% | 0.5% |
| SNA → PVU Orange County John Wayne to Provo | 412 | 73% | 0.2% |
Questions
How often are flights from SNA to SLC on time?
86% of 1,859 scheduled flights from Santa Ana, CA to Salt Lake City, UT arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 0.7% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly SNA to SLC?
Flights scheduled to leave at 7 a.m. were the most reliable (91% on time). The 1 p.m. departures were the least (77%).
Which airline is most on time from SNA to SLC?
Delta Air Lines: 86% of its 1,757 flights on the route arrived on time. Frontier Airlines: 85%.
What month has the most delays from SNA to SLC?
January (81% on time). The best month is March (91%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from SNA to SLC more likely to be cancelled?
No, the opposite. Each airline's last SNA–SLC flight of the day was cancelled 0.5% of the time over the past year, against 0.7% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- SLC → SNA (return)
- Orange County John Wayne (SNA) delays by hour
- Flights into Salt Lake City (SLC)
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- Frontier Airlines on-time record
- Allegiant Air 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.