Seattle Paine Field International Airport (PAE): Delays & On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Seattle Paine Field International Airport (PAE) runs noticeably smoother than most US airports: 86% of its ~3 daily departures leave on time, 8 points above the national average, with an average departure delay of just 10 minutes. 2 airlines fly from Everett, WA to 5 destinations.
- Departures on-time
- 86%
- left <15 min late
- Avg dep delay
- 10 min
- Arrivals on-time
- 85%
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Destinations
- 5
- nonstop
- Airlines
- 2
Plan your departure from PAE
The choices most likely to improve your odds, based on this airport’s historical record.
- Best departure time
- Around 7 a.m.
- 92% on-time
- Best day to fly
- Wednesday
- 90% on-time
- Cancellation risk
- 0.9%
- below the US average
Monthly on-time trend
Best time of day to depart from PAE
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 81% | 15 min |
| Tuesday | 86% | 7 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 90% | 7 min |
| Thursday | 85% | 8 min |
| Friday | 84% | 10 min |
| Saturday | 88% | 7 min |
| Sunday | 84% | 10 min |
Busiest routes from PAE
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAE → PHX (Phoenix) | 578 | 85% | 10 min |
| PAE → LAS (Las Vegas) | 452 | 86% | 10 min |
| PAE → HNL (Honolulu) | 125 | 83% | 8 min |
Where flights into PAE come from
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHX (Phoenix) → PAE | 582 | 87% | 8 min |
| LAS (Las Vegas) → PAE | 450 | 82% | 10 min |
| HNL (Honolulu) → PAE | 125 | 84% | 11 min |
What causes delays at PAE
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT, weighted across routes departing PAE.
- Late-arriving aircraft45%
- Airline operations23%
- National airspace system28%
- Weather3%
Alternative airports near Everett
Other airports within 120 miles, compared on departure reliability.
| Airport | Distance | On-time departures | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEA — Seattle–Tacoma International Airport | 32 mi | 79% | 13 min |
| BLI — Bellingham International Airport | 62 mi | 87% | 10 min |
Compare the airport-level record first, then check the exact route you plan to book.
Airline performance at PAE
| Airline | On-time departures | Avg delay | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines | 87% | 8 min | 2,236 |
| Frontier Airlines | 68% | 33 min | 164 |
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights delayed at PAE?
- 14% of departures from Seattle Paine Field International Airport left 15+ minutes late between 2024-07 and 2026-07, with an average departure delay of 10 minutes. The national on-time average over the same period was 78%.
- What is the best time of day to depart from PAE?
- Flights scheduled around 7 a.m. depart on time 92% of the time at PAE, versus 76% around 4 p.m.. Booking before noon is the usual rule of thumb here.
- What is the worst month for delays at PAE?
- In this dataset, November 2025 was the weakest month at PAE, with 79% of departures on time.
- How often are flights cancelled at PAE?
- 0.9% of scheduled departures from PAE were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.
Popular route pages from this airport
Related guides
Based on 2,400 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.