Seattle (SEA) to Cleveland (CLE): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Seattle (SEA) to Cleveland (CLE) effectively runs on two schedules. In February 2026, 95% of arrivals were on time; in September 2024 that fell to 44% — a 51-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 74% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 74%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 13 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.6%
- Flights/day
- 1.3
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 30m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,021 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SEA to CLE
Aim for departures around 10 p.m. (80% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (60%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 69% | 12 min |
| Tuesday | 77% | 12 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 81% | 8 min |
| Thursday | 78% | 10 min |
| Friday | 64% | 18 min |
| Saturday | 74% | 13 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 16 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft40%
- Airline operations35%
- National airspace system23%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SEA to CLE delayed?
- 26% of SEA–CLE flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 13 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SEA to CLE?
- Departures around 10 p.m. have the best record (80% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (60%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SEA to CLE?
- The scheduled SEA–CLE flight time averages 4h 30m over 2,021 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 26% of the time.
- How often are SEA to CLE flights cancelled?
- 0.6% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from SEA to CLE?
- September 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 44% of arrivals on time. The best was February 2026 at 95%. If your dates are flexible, that 51-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 926 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.