72% of flights from Washington to Seattle arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 8 a.m. departures ran on time 79% of the time; the 4 p.m. ones 65%. Most reliable airline: Alaska Airlines (75%). 10% of flights arrived more than an hour late or not at all.
How late?
The on-time rate treats a flight 20 minutes late the same as one 5 hours late. Here's the split for DCA → SEA: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 60% of the time. About 1 in 12 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 57 three hours or more; 1.4% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early72%
- 15–30 min late11%
- 30–60 min late7.4%
- 1–2 hours late4.9%
- 2–3 hours late1.5%
- 3+ hours late1.7%
- Diverted0.5%
- Cancelled1.4%
Share of all 1,092 scheduled flights, past 12 months, by arrival time against schedule.
By airline
| Airline | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | 1h+ late | Avg when late | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines | 728 | 75% | 0.7% | −6 min | 5.5% | +50 min | Alaska Airlines |
| Delta Air Lines | 364 | 65% | 2.8% | −2 min | 13.5% | +88 min | Delta Air Lines |
Airline = the name on the ticket. Regional flights (e.g. "Delta Connection") count under the ticketing airline, and the operator is listed.
Best time of day to fly
On-time rate by scheduled departure hour (local time at DCA). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Alaska Airlines | Delta Air Lines |
|---|---|---|
| 8 a.m. | 79% | — |
| 4 p.m. | — | 65% |
| 5 p.m. | 72% | — |
Last flight of the day
On DCA → SEA, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 0.3% of the time, against 1.1% for its earlier flights, so here the last flight is actually the safer one. It arrived 3+ hours late 1.4% of the time (earlier flights: 0.5%). It matters more than the numbers suggest. Miss an earlier flight and there's another one that evening; miss the last one and you're usually waiting until morning.
| Airline | Last departure | Last: cancelled | Last: 3h+ late | Earlier: cancelled | Next morning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines | 5:00 p.m. | 0.3% | 1.4% | 1.1% | first flight 8:00 a.m. |
Last flight = the airline's last scheduled departure on this route that day, on days it flies the route at least twice; past 12 months. Times are typical scheduled times over the latest three months.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: April (87%). Worst: July (68%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 159 | 69% | 1.9% |
| Tuesday | 156 | 74% | 0.6% |
| Wednesday | 156 | 68% | 0.0% |
| Thursday | 155 | 66% | 0.7% |
| Friday | 156 | 73% | 1.3% |
| Saturday | 154 | 84% | 1.3% |
| Sunday | 156 | 69% | 3.9% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: airline 7 · weather 7 · air traffic/airport 1
Month by month
Not enough months with data to draw a trend.
Flight numbers on this route
Regular flights with at least 120 scheduled trips in the past year. Sorted by departure time.
| Flight | Departs | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AS 1 | 8:00 a.m. | 365 | 79% | 1.1% | −8 min | Alaska Airlines |
| DL 786 | 4:40 p.m. | 152 | 63% | 4.0% | −2 min | Delta Air Lines |
| AS 3 | 5:00 p.m. | 363 | 72% | 0.3% | −4 min | Alaska Airlines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 23, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Feb 22, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 1 |
| Dec 5, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Jul 21, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Dec 19, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Washington or Seattle. IAD → SEA has been 5 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCA → SEA (this route) | 1,092 | 72% | 1.4% |
| IAD → SEA Washington Dulles to Seattle-Tacoma | 1,821 | 77% | 1.0% |
| BWI → SEA Baltimore/Washington to Seattle-Tacoma | 719 | 66% | 0.8% |
Questions
How often are flights from DCA to SEA on time?
72% of 1,092 scheduled flights from Washington, DC to Seattle, WA arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.4% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly DCA to SEA?
Flights scheduled to leave at 8 a.m. were the most reliable (79% on time). The 4 p.m. departures were the least (65%).
Which airline is most on time from DCA to SEA?
Alaska Airlines: 75% of its 728 flights on the route arrived on time. Delta Air Lines: 65%.
What month has the most delays from DCA to SEA?
July (68% on time). The best month is April (87%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from DCA to SEA more likely to be cancelled?
No, the opposite. Each airline's last DCA–SEA flight of the day was cancelled 0.3% of the time over the past year, against 1.1% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- SEA → DCA (return)
- Washington Reagan National (DCA) delays by hour
- Flights into Seattle-Tacoma (SEA)
- Alaska Airlines on-time record
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- Connecting off this flight? Check the risk
Domestic flights by the airlines that report to the U.S. DOT, plus their regional partners. "On time" means arriving less than 15 minutes after schedule; cancelled and diverted flights count as not on time. Past performance is a guide, not a forecast. Method.