Alaska vs Delta: On-Time Performance Compared

Last 12 months · Aug 2025 – Jul 2026

Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026

Delta was more punctual than Alaska over the last 12 months: 81.5% of its flights arrived on time, against 79.6%.

Alaska cancelled fewer flights (1.2% vs 1.7%), and late flights averaged 52 minutes late on Alaska vs 71 on Delta.

On the 110 routes both airlines fly regularly, Alaska had the better on-time record on 34 and Delta on 76.

Alaska vs Delta: key numbers

Last 12 months, all flights each airline operated.

AlaskaDelta

On-time arrivals79.6%81.5%

On-time departures79.9%81.9%

Cancelled1.2%1.7%

Diverted0.3%0.3%

On-time arrival % each month, last 24 months.

AlaskaDelta

70%80%90%

Aug ’24Nov ’24Feb ’25May ’25Aug ’25Nov ’25Feb ’26May ’26

Share of each airline’s reported delay minutes by cause, last 12 months.

AlaskaDelta

Airline (carrier)33.1%44.7%

Weather4.4%4.1%

Air traffic system (NAS)24.1%21.6%

Security0.4%0.1%

Late-arriving aircraft37.9%29.5%

110 routes where each airline had at least 100 completed flights in the last 12 months; the 25 busiest are shown. Better on-time rate in bold.

Route	Alaska on time	Delta on time	Alaska flights	Delta flights
SEA → ANC	76.1%	77.4%	4,982	1,614
ANC → SEA	86.1%	88.3%	4,980	1,614
SEA → LAX	80.7%	83.1%	3,289	2,226
LAX → SEA	85.3%	86.4%	3,287	2,225
SEA → PHX	79.1%	81.6%	2,887	1,766
PHX → SEA	84.5%	87.7%	2,884	1,765
SEA → SAN	73.9%	82.1%	2,741	1,704
SAN → SEA	78.3%	87.4%	2,739	1,704
SEA → LAS	78.8%	82.9%	2,622	1,742
LAS → SEA	83.1%	87.5%	2,621	1,742
SFO → SEA	69.7%	81.3%	2,713	955
SEA → SFO	57.8%	62.9%	2,710	954
SEA → SLC	80.1%	86.8%	1,420	2,227
SLC → SEA	77.5%	82.9%	1,417	2,230
LAX → PDX	90.0%	86.0%	1,846	1,692
PDX → LAX	86.0%	90.3%	1,845	1,691
SEA → SNA	85.9%	82.9%	2,580	942
SNA → SEA	87.6%	81.2%	2,578	942
JFK → SFO	72.4%	70.2%	1,108	2,232
SFO → JFK	79.1%	79.0%	1,107	2,232
ATL → SEA	74.5%	77.6%	898	2,380
SEA → ATL	82.4%	84.0%	897	2,380
LAX → SFO	51.2%	62.9%	864	2,374
SFO → LAX	68.1%	72.1%	862	2,374
JFK → SEA	67.5%	72.9%	1,402	1,338