85% of flights from Santa Barbara to Phoenix arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is better than the typical U.S. route. The 9 a.m. departures ran on time 91% of the time; the 6 p.m. ones 77%. 7% 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 SBA → PHX: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 46% of the time. About 1 in 17 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 65 three hours or more; 1.0% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early85%
- 15–30 min late4.6%
- 30–60 min late3.6%
- 1–2 hours late3.1%
- 2–3 hours late1.3%
- 3+ hours late1.5%
- Diverted0.1%
- Cancelled1.0%
Share of all 1,432 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 | 1,424 | 85% | 1.1% | −10 min | 6.0% | +111 min | American Airlines 46%, SkyWest 29%, Envoy 26% |
| Southwest Airlines | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | Southwest 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 SBA). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | American Airlines |
|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 90% |
| 9 a.m. | 91% |
| 10 a.m. | 89% |
| noon | 82% |
| 1 p.m. | 80% |
| 4 p.m. | 80% |
| 6 p.m. | 77% |
Last flight of the day
On SBA → PHX, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 1.6% of the time, against 0.9% for its earlier flights (1.9× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 1.1% of the time (earlier flights: 1.8%). 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 | 6:48 p.m. | 1.6% | 1.1% | 0.9% | first flight 6:00 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 PHX 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 (88%). Worst: June (81%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 209 | 84% | 1.4% |
| Tuesday | 193 | 89% | 1.0% |
| Wednesday | 191 | 89% | 0.5% |
| Thursday | 212 | 88% | 0.5% |
| Friday | 207 | 78% | 1.0% |
| Saturday | 191 | 84% | 1.6% |
| Sunday | 229 | 81% | 1.3% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 11 · air traffic/airport 3 · airline 1
Month by month
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 13, 2026 | 4 | 0% | 0 |
| Oct 12, 2025 | 6 | 17% | 0 |
| Mar 14, 2026 | 5 | 20% | 0 |
| Nov 4, 2025 | 4 | 25% | 0 |
| Jan 4, 2026 | 4 | 25% | 1 |
Questions
How often are flights from SBA to PHX on time?
85% of 1,432 scheduled flights from Santa Barbara, CA to Phoenix, AZ 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 SBA to PHX?
Flights scheduled to leave at 9 a.m. were the most reliable (91% on time). The 6 p.m. departures were the least (77%).
What month has the most delays from SBA to PHX?
June (81% on time). The best month is May (88%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from SBA to PHX more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last SBA–PHX flight of the day was cancelled 1.6% of the time over the past year, against 0.9% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- PHX → SBA (return)
- Santa Barbara (SBA) delays by hour
- Flights into Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)
- American Airlines on-time record
- Southwest 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.