Fairbanks (FAI) to Seattle (SEA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly FAI to SEA matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 93% on-time in April 2026 to just 67% in December 2025. Across the full period the route averages 83% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 83%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 12 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.0%
- Flights/day
- 6.3
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 43m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,533 mi
Best airline from FAI to SEA
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlinesmost reliable | 84% | 9 min | 0.7% | 3,871 |
| Delta Air Lines | 79% | 23 min | 1.9% | 1,050 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from FAI to SEA
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 1 p.m. departures (75%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 80% | 14 min |
| Tuesday | 85% | 13 min |
| Wednesday | 82% | 12 min |
| Thursday | 81% | 11 min |
| Friday | 83% | 13 min |
| Saturdaybest | 86% | 9 min |
| Sunday | 84% | 12 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft41%
- Airline operations39%
- National airspace system17%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from FAI to SEA delayed?
- 17% of FAI–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 12 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from FAI to SEA?
- Alaska Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 84%, based on 3,871 flights. 2 airlines flew FAI–SEA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from FAI to SEA?
- Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 1 p.m. have the worst (75%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from FAI to SEA?
- The scheduled FAI–SEA flight time averages 3h 43m over 1,533 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 17% of the time.
- How often are FAI to SEA flights cancelled?
- 1% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from FAI to SEA?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 67% of arrivals on time. The best was April 2026 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 26-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,921 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.