83% of flights from Santa Maria to Phoenix 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 86% of the time; the 4 p.m. ones 80%. 11% 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 SMX → PHX: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 30% of the time. About 1 in 11 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 25 three hours or more; 1.2% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early83%
- 15–30 min late4.0%
- 30–60 min late2.5%
- 1–2 hours late3.0%
- 2–3 hours late2.5%
- 3+ hours late4.0%
- Diverted0.0%
- 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% | −19 min | 9.4% | +137 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 SMX). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
Last flight of the day
On SMX → PHX, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 0.0% of the time, against 2.5% for its earlier flights, so here the last flight is actually the safer one. It arrived 3+ hours late 2.5% of the time (earlier flights: 5.5%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | — | 0.0% | 2.5% | 2.5% | — |
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 Santa Maria or Phoenix. None has been clearly more reliable than SMX → PHX.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMX → PHX (this route) | 405 | 83% | 1.2% |
| SBA → PHX Santa Barbara to Phoenix Sky Harbor | 1,432 | 85% | 1.1% |
| SBP → PHX San Luis to Phoenix Sky Harbor | 1,240 | 81% | 1.0% |
Questions
How often are flights from SMX to PHX on time?
83% of 405 scheduled flights from Santa Maria, CA to Phoenix, AZ arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.2% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly SMX to PHX?
Flights scheduled to leave at 5 a.m. were the most reliable (86% on time). The 4 p.m. departures were the least (80%).
Is the last flight of the day from SMX to PHX more likely to be cancelled?
No, the opposite. Each airline's last SMX–PHX flight of the day was cancelled 0.0% of the time over the past year, against 2.5% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- PHX → SMX (return)
- Flights into Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)
- 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.