81% of flights from Fairbanks to Seattle arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is about the typical U.S. route. The 12 a.m. departures ran on time 89% of the time; the 2 a.m. ones 74%. Most reliable airline: Alaska Airlines (83%). 5% 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 FAI → SEA: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 68% of the time. About 1 in 23 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 94 three hours or more; 1.0% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early81%
- 15–30 min late9.4%
- 30–60 min late4.0%
- 1–2 hours late2.4%
- 2–3 hours late0.9%
- 3+ hours late1.1%
- Diverted0.1%
- Cancelled1.0%
Share of all 2,253 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 | 1,779 | 83% | 0.6% | −9 min | 3.4% | +52 min | Alaska Airlines |
| Delta Air Lines | 474 | 74% | 2.5% | −7 min | 7.8% | +103 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 FAI). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 12 a.m. | 90% | — |
| 1 a.m. | 95% | 73% |
| 2 a.m. | 74% | — |
| 5 a.m. | 86% | — |
| 8 a.m. | 83% | — |
| noon | 88% | — |
| 3 p.m. | 77% | — |
| 4 p.m. | 77% | — |
Last flight of the day
On FAI → SEA, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 0.2% of the time, against 0.7% for its earlier flights, so here the last flight is actually the safer one. It arrived 3+ hours late 1.3% of the time (earlier flights: 0.7%). 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 | 3:53 p.m. | 0.3% | 1.1% | 0.7% | first flight 12:19 a.m. |
| Delta Air Lines | 2:41 p.m. | 0.0% | 1.8% | 0.0% | first flight 1:35 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 (89%). Worst: December (72%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 332 | 80% | 1.2% |
| Tuesday | 323 | 83% | 0.9% |
| Wednesday | 310 | 78% | 0.7% |
| Thursday | 315 | 80% | 0.3% |
| Friday | 323 | 78% | 1.2% |
| Saturday | 324 | 86% | 1.5% |
| Sunday | 326 | 84% | 1.2% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 15 · airline 8
Month by month
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL 2408 | 1:30 a.m. | 353 | 73% | 3.4% | −9 min | Delta Air Lines |
| AS 210 | 5:30 a.m. | 328 | 82% | 0.6% | −7 min | Alaska Airlines |
| DL 1061 | 2:41 p.m. | 121 | 79% | 0.0% | −6 min | Delta Air Lines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 6, 2026 | 7 | 14% | 0 |
| Dec 12, 2025 | 6 | 17% | 0 |
| Feb 19, 2026 | 6 | 17% | 0 |
| Oct 24, 2025 | 5 | 20% | 1 |
| Nov 5, 2025 | 5 | 20% | 0 |
Questions
How often are flights from FAI to SEA on time?
81% of 2,253 scheduled flights from Fairbanks, AK to Seattle, WA arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.0% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly FAI to SEA?
Flights scheduled to leave at 12 a.m. were the most reliable (89% on time). The 2 a.m. departures were the least (74%).
Which airline is most on time from FAI to SEA?
Alaska Airlines: 83% of its 1,779 flights on the route arrived on time. Delta Air Lines: 74%.
What month has the most delays from FAI to SEA?
December (72% on time). The best month is April (89%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from FAI to SEA more likely to be cancelled?
No, the opposite. Each airline's last FAI–SEA flight of the day was cancelled 0.2% of the time over the past year, against 0.7% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- SEA → FAI (return)
- Fairbanks (FAI) 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.