Seattle (SEA) to Santa Ana (SNA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Seattle (SEA) to Santa Ana (SNA) effectively runs on two schedules. In May 2026, 93% of arrivals were on time; in July 2026 that fell to 75% — a 18-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
- 0.8%
- Flights/day
- 11
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 50m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 978 mi
Best airline from SEA to SNA
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlinesmost reliable | 85% | 7 min | 1.0% | 5,421 |
| Delta Air Lines | 84% | 14 min | 0.7% | 2,175 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 80% | 10 min | 0.3% | 642 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SEA to SNA
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (89% on-time); avoid 12 p.m. departures (79%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 84% | 9 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 88% | 7 min |
| Wednesday | 87% | 7 min |
| Thursday | 81% | 10 min |
| Friday | 84% | 11 min |
| Saturday | 85% | 9 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 aircraft22%
- Airline operations54%
- National airspace system20%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SEA to SNA delayed?
- 15% of SEA–SNA 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 SNA?
- Alaska Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 85%, based on 5,421 flights. 3 airlines flew SEA–SNA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SEA to SNA?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (89% on-time), while departures around 12 p.m. have the worst (79%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SEA to SNA?
- The scheduled SEA–SNA flight time averages 2h 50m over 978 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 15% of the time.
- How often are SEA to SNA flights cancelled?
- 0.8% 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 SNA?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 75% of arrivals on time. The best was May 2026 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 18-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 8,238 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.