82% of flights from Santa Ana to Phoenix arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is about the typical U.S. route. The 6 a.m. departures ran on time 92% of the time; the 6 p.m. ones 64%. Most reliable airline: Southwest Airlines (82%). 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 → PHX: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 59% of the time. About 1 in 19 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 116 three hours or more; 0.8% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early82%
- 15–30 min late7.1%
- 30–60 min late5.0%
- 1–2 hours late3.5%
- 2–3 hours late1.0%
- 3+ hours late0.9%
- Diverted0.2%
- Cancelled0.8%
Share of all 4,636 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 | 2,406 | 82% | 0.7% | −6 min | 3.7% | +46 min | Southwest Airlines |
| American Airlines | 1,949 | 81% | 0.6% | −8 min | 7.2% | +92 min | American Airlines |
| Frontier Airlines | 281 | 80% | 2.5% | −9 min | 6.0% | +82 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 SNA). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 94% | 92% |
| 7 a.m. | 93% | — |
| 8 a.m. | 91% | — |
| 9 a.m. | 90% | 90% |
| 10 a.m. | 84% | — |
| 11 a.m. | 89% | — |
| noon | — | 77% |
| 1 p.m. | — | 76% |
| 2 p.m. | 78% | — |
| 3 p.m. | 72% | — |
| 4 p.m. | 73% | 75% |
| 5 p.m. | 81% | — |
| 6 p.m. | 63% | — |
| 7 p.m. | 82% | 76% |
| 8 p.m. | 79% | — |
Last flight of the day
On SNA → PHX, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 1.2% of the time, against 0.6% for its earlier flights (2.0× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 1.0% of the time (earlier flights: 0.8%). 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 | 7:32 p.m. | 0.8% | 2.2% | 0.6% | first flight 6:45 a.m. |
| Southwest Airlines | 8:40 p.m. | 1.1% | 0.0% | 0.6% | first flight 7:05 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: February (88%). Worst: July (78%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 742 | 84% | 0.8% |
| Tuesday | 581 | 84% | 0.5% |
| Wednesday | 591 | 86% | 0.2% |
| Thursday | 734 | 81% | 0.7% |
| Friday | 731 | 80% | 1.8% |
| Saturday | 527 | 87% | 0.2% |
| Sunday | 730 | 72% | 0.8% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: airline 15 · weather 15 · air traffic/airport 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA 628 | 6:45 a.m. | 359 | 88% | 0.6% | −8 min | American Airlines |
| F9 1720 | 2:27 p.m. | 176 | 82% | 1.1% | −9 min | Frontier Airlines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 10, 2025 | 14 | 7% | 2 |
| Sep 26, 2025 | 13 | 23% | 6 |
| Oct 13, 2025 | 13 | 23% | 0 |
| Oct 12, 2025 | 14 | 29% | 0 |
| Nov 4, 2025 | 13 | 31% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Santa Ana or Phoenix. CLD → PHX has been 3 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| SNA → PHX (this route) | 4,636 | 82% | 0.8% |
| CLD → PHX McClellan-Palomar to Phoenix Sky Harbor | 908 | 85% | 1.2% |
| BUR → PHX Hollywood Burbank to Phoenix Sky Harbor | 3,118 | 82% | 1.0% |
| ONT → PHX Ontario to Phoenix Sky Harbor | 3,011 | 82% | 0.6% |
| LGB → PHX Long Beach to Phoenix Sky Harbor | 1,515 | 80% | 0.3% |
| LAX → PHX Los Angeles LAX to Phoenix Sky Harbor | 7,623 | 80% | 0.8% |
Questions
How often are flights from SNA to PHX on time?
82% of 4,636 scheduled flights from Santa Ana, CA to Phoenix, AZ arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 0.8% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly SNA to PHX?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (92% on time). The 6 p.m. departures were the least (64%).
Which airline is most on time from SNA to PHX?
Southwest Airlines: 82% of its 2,406 flights on the route arrived on time. American Airlines: 81%. Frontier Airlines: 80%.
What month has the most delays from SNA to PHX?
July (78% on time). The best month is February (88%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from SNA to PHX more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last SNA–PHX flight of the day was cancelled 1.2% of the time over the past year, against 0.6% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- PHX → SNA (return)
- Orange County John Wayne (SNA) delays by hour
- Flights into Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)
- 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.