Seattle Airport Delays: Sea-Tac vs Paine Field Compared

Paine Field recorded an 85.6% on-time departure rate, compared with 79.4% at Seattle–Tacoma, in FlightRecord’s historical data. Paine Field’s result comes from 2,292 departures and five destinations, while Sea-Tac recorded 329,002 departures and 97 destinations, so the airports serve very different trip needs.

All figures below describe historical departures, not live airport conditions or a prediction for an individual flight.

Key takeaways

• Paine Field recorded 85.6% on-time departures and a 9.9-minute average departure delay across 2,292 departures.
• Seattle–Tacoma recorded 79.4% on-time departures and a 12.5-minute average departure delay across 329,002 departures.
• Sea-Tac’s cancellation rate was 0.8%, compared with 0.9% at Paine Field.
• Sea-Tac served 97 destinations and 11 airlines in the dataset; Paine Field served five destinations and two airlines.

Which Seattle area airport had the strongest historical departure record?

Paine Field recorded an 85.6% on-time departure rate, compared with 79.4% at Seattle–Tacoma, in FlightRecord’s historical data. Paine Field’s result comes from 2,292 departures and five destinations, while Sea-Tac recorded 329,002 departures and 97 destinations, so the airports serve very different trip needs.

The following comparison keeps the measures separate so a higher on-time rate is not mistaken for a lower cancellation rate or a larger flight network.

• Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) — 79.4% on-time departures, 12.5 minutes average departure delay, 0.8% cancelled, 329,002 departures, 97 destinations, and 11 airlines.
• Seattle Paine Field International Airport (PAE) — 85.6% on-time departures, 9.9 minutes average departure delay, 0.9% cancelled, 2,292 departures, 5 destinations, and 2 airlines.

When should the historical winner change the airport choice?

Paine Field had the stronger historical on-time record, but it is not a universal Sea-Tac replacement. Its small network and much smaller flight count mean it can help only on a narrow set of itineraries. When both airports offer the same practical nonstop, Paine Field’s historical departure figures favor it; otherwise, Sea-Tac’s network breadth may decide the trip.

The term “on time” follows FlightRecord’s methodology: a flight arriving less than 15 minutes late. This guide reports departure-side airport measures, so it should not be read as an arrival guarantee.

How should travelers choose between Seattle area airports?

Use the airport comparison after narrowing the decision to real, bookable flights. These three checks keep a broad historical average in the right role.

• 1. Check Paine Field first only when its five-destination network includes the route you need.
• 2. When two comparable nonstop options exist, use Paine Field’s higher historical on-time rate and shorter average departure delay as a tie-breaker.
• 3. Factor in Sea-Tac’s much larger carrier and destination network, especially if same-day backup flights matter to your trip.

How were these airport delay figures calculated?

FlightRecord analyzed 14,111,289 U.S. domestic flight records from 2024-06 through 2026-05—a 24-month period. The site aggregates the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ Airline On-Time Statistics by airport, rather than presenting a live feed. The federal source reports scheduled and actual times, cancellations, diversions, and airport- and airline-level statistics.

For definitions, sample rules, and limitations, read FlightRecord’s full methodology. Historical performance does not guarantee that a future flight will be on time.

Frequently asked questions

Is Paine Field more reliable than Sea-Tac?

Paine Field recorded 85.6% on-time departures, compared with 79.4% at Sea-Tac, in FlightRecord’s 24-month historical dataset. Paine Field’s sample was far smaller—2,292 departures versus 329,002—and it served only five destinations, so the result applies only when it offers a suitable flight.

Does Paine Field have fewer cancellations than Sea-Tac?

No. Paine Field recorded a 0.9% cancellation rate, while Sea-Tac recorded 0.8% in the same period. Paine Field had the higher on-time departure rate, which is a reminder that cancellation rate and delay history measure different parts of reliability.

Why does Sea-Tac have more flight options?

Sea-Tac served 97 destinations and 11 airlines in the dataset, compared with five destinations and two airlines at Paine Field. That wider network can offer more nonstop choices and more alternatives after a disruption, even though Sea-Tac’s historical on-time rate was lower.

Do these airport averages tell me whether my flight will be late today?

No. These are historical aggregates from June 2024 through May 2026, not live operational updates. Check the airline and FAA on the travel day for the conditions affecting a particular flight, and use the historical figures as one planning input.