Seattle (SEA) to Tampa (TPA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The calendar drives reliability on SEA–TPA. February 2026 flights landed on schedule 90% of the time, but June 2025 dropped to 52% — a gap of 38 points. Across the full period the route averages 75% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 75%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 13 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.1%
- Flights/day
- 2.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 27m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,520 mi
Best airline from SEA to TPA
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 76% | 15 min | 1.0% | 725 |
| Alaska Airlines | 74% | 12 min | 1.1% | 1,262 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SEA to TPA
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 10 p.m. departures (56%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 73% | 15 min |
| Tuesday | 77% | 11 min |
| Wednesday | 75% | 11 min |
| Thursday | 76% | 12 min |
| Fridaybest | 78% | 14 min |
| Saturday | 75% | 13 min |
| Sunday | 70% | 17 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft24%
- Airline operations42%
- National airspace system30%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SEA to TPA delayed?
- 25% of SEA–TPA 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.
- Which airline is most reliable from SEA to TPA?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 76%, based on 725 flights. 2 airlines flew SEA–TPA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SEA to TPA?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (90% on-time), while departures around 10 p.m. have the worst (56%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SEA to TPA?
- The scheduled SEA–TPA flight time averages 5h 27m over 2,520 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 25% of the time.
- How often are SEA to TPA flights cancelled?
- 1.1% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from SEA to TPA?
- June 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 52% of arrivals on time. The best was February 2026 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 38-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
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Based on 1,987 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.