Seattle (SEA) to Santa Ana (SNA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Seattle (SEA) to Santa Ana (SNA) is one of the more dependable pairings in US skies: 85% of arrivals are on time, 7 points clear of the national average, and the typical flight that does run late is only 9 minutes behind.
- On-time
- 85%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 9 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.0%
- Flights/day
- 11
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 49m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 978 mi
Best airline from SEA to SNA
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlinesmost reliable | 86% | 7 min | 1.1% | 5,213 |
| Delta Air Lines | 85% | 14 min | 0.7% | 2,175 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 82% | 9 min | 0.2% | 459 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SEA to SNA
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 12 p.m. departures (80%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 85% | 9 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 88% | 7 min |
| Wednesday | 88% | 7 min |
| Thursday | 82% | 10 min |
| Friday | 85% | 11 min |
| Saturday | 85% | 9 min |
| Sunday | 85% | 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 operations56%
- National airspace system18%
- 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 2024-06 and 2026-05. 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 86%, based on 5,213 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 (90% on-time), while departures around 12 p.m. have the worst (80%). 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 49m 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?
- 1% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What day of the week is most reliable for SEA to SNA?
- Tuesday flights have the best record at 88% on-time. Day-of-week differences on this route are modest.
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Based on 7,847 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.