Seattle (SEA) to New York (JFK): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The calendar drives reliability on SEA–JFK. November 2024 flights landed on schedule 93% of the time, but July 2025 dropped to 48% — a gap of 45 points. Across the full period the route averages 74% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 74%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 17 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.0%
- Flights/day
- 8.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 26m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,422 mi
Best airline from SEA to JFK
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 81% | 13 min | 2.0% | 2,803 |
| Alaska Airlines | 68% | 18 min | 1.7% | 2,870 |
| JetBlue Airways | 68% | 28 min | 3.7% | 377 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SEA to JFK
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 2 p.m. departures (57%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 74% | 20 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 78% | 13 min |
| Wednesday | 77% | 15 min |
| Thursday | 72% | 17 min |
| Friday | 73% | 16 min |
| Saturday | 74% | 16 min |
| Sunday | 70% | 19 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft22%
- Airline operations34%
- National airspace system39%
- Weather5%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SEA to JFK delayed?
- 26% of SEA–JFK 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 17 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from SEA to JFK?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 81%, based on 2,803 flights. 3 airlines flew SEA–JFK frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SEA to JFK?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 2 p.m. have the worst (57%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SEA to JFK?
- The scheduled SEA–JFK flight time averages 5h 26m over 2,422 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 26% of the time.
- How often are SEA to JFK flights cancelled?
- 2% 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 SEA to JFK?
- July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 48% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 45-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 6,050 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.