Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Seattle (SEA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly DFW to SEA matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 82% on-time in October 2024 to just 60% in July 2024. Across the full period the route averages 71% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (79% vs 58%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 71%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 20 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.7%
- Flights/day
- 14
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 24m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,660 mi
Best airline from DFW to SEA
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 82% | 17 min | 1.4% | 1,453 |
| Alaska Airlines | 70% | 17 min | 1.2% | 3,764 |
| American Airlines | 69% | 22 min | 2.1% | 5,799 |
| Frontier Airlines | 65% | 21 min | 0.6% | 177 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DFW to SEA
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (85% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (50%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 71% | 21 min |
| Tuesday | 72% | 18 min |
| Wednesday | 71% | 21 min |
| Thursday | 72% | 19 min |
| Friday | 71% | 19 min |
| Saturdaybest | 72% | 19 min |
| Sunday | 67% | 22 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft42%
- Airline operations32%
- National airspace system17%
- Weather8%
- Security1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DFW to SEA delayed?
- 29% of DFW–SEA flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-07 and 2026-07. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 20 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DFW to SEA?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 82%, based on 1,453 flights. 4 airlines flew DFW–SEA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DFW to SEA?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (85% on-time), while departures around 7 p.m. have the worst (50%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DFW to SEA?
- The scheduled DFW–SEA flight time averages 4h 24m over 1,660 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 29% of the time.
- How often are DFW to SEA flights cancelled?
- 1.7% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from DFW to SEA?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 60% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 82%. If your dates are flexible, that 22-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 11,194 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.