Seattle (SEA) to Minneapolis (MSP): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Seattle (SEA) to Minneapolis (MSP) effectively runs on two schedules. In April 2025, 95% of arrivals were on time; in July 2024 that fell to 72% — a 24-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 85% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 85%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 9 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.6%
- Flights/day
- 7.4
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 24m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,399 mi
Best airline from SEA to MSP
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 88% | 8 min | 0.6% | 3,644 |
| Alaska Airlines | 79% | 11 min | 0.6% | 2,003 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SEA to MSP
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (95% on-time); avoid 10 a.m. departures (69%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 85% | 10 min |
| Tuesday | 87% | 7 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 88% | 7 min |
| Thursday | 84% | 9 min |
| Friday | 84% | 9 min |
| Saturday | 86% | 11 min |
| Sunday | 84% | 9 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft29%
- Airline operations49%
- National airspace system19%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SEA to MSP delayed?
- 15% of SEA–MSP 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 9 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from SEA to MSP?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 88%, based on 3,644 flights. 2 airlines flew SEA–MSP frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SEA to MSP?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (95% on-time), while departures around 10 a.m. have the worst (69%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SEA to MSP?
- The scheduled SEA–MSP flight time averages 3h 24m over 1,399 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 15% of the time.
- How often are SEA to MSP flights cancelled?
- 0.6% 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 SEA to MSP?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 72% of arrivals on time. The best was April 2025 at 95%. If your dates are flexible, that 24-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 5,647 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.