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Route · MSP → SEA · 2020–2025 BTS data

Minneapolis to Seattle

According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking (BTS On-Time Performance total flights), MSP to SEA (Minneapolis to Seattle) ranks #575 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1).

Data updated 2026-06-13

87%
On-time
+8 pts
vs US avg
62 min
Delay when late
15,524
Flights
#575 of 4927
Corpus placement

Cancelled

0.7%

Best Month

Feb 2024 95%

Worst Month

Dec 2025 52%

Distance

1,399 mi

Carriers

3

Monthly Performance

Recent 24 months of route data.

Period Flights Delayed Cancelled Diverted Carriers
Dec 2025 208 99 1 0 DL,AS
Nov 2025 202 34 2 0 DL,AS
Oct 2025 230 24 3 0 AS,DL
Sep 2025 264 21 2 0 DL,AS
Aug 2025 292 38 0 0 AS,DL
Jul 2025 295 51 3 2 AS,DL
Jun 2025 269 43 2 1 AS,DL
May 2025 218 27 0 0 AS,DL
Apr 2025 196 19 1 0 DL,AS
Mar 2025 198 27 1 0 AS,DL
Feb 2025 160 26 0 0 AS,DL
Jan 2025 179 19 0 0 AS,DL
Dec 2024 201 31 0 0 AS,DL
Nov 2024 188 10 0 0 AS,DL
Oct 2024 222 17 1 0 AS,DL
Sep 2024 264 27 0 0 AS,DL
Aug 2024 287 76 1 0 AS,DL
Jul 2024 285 62 8 0 AS,DL
Jun 2024 269 94 0 1 AS,DL
May 2024 241 35 1 0 AS,DL
Apr 2024 225 13 0 1 AS,DL
Mar 2024 206 35 1 0 AS,DL
Feb 2024 164 8 0 0 AS,DL
Jan 2024 181 20 11 0 AS,DL

MSP–SEA seasonal on-time pattern

Best: September (92.0%) · weakest: December (78.8%)

75%80%85%90%95% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 78.8%

Strongest calendar month

September

92.0% on-time · ~245 flights/mo

Busiest calendar month

August

~264 flights/mo avg

Weakest calendar month

December

78.8% on-time · ~197 flights/mo

Cancellation Rate

0.7%

38 of 5,444 flights

Diversion Rate

0.1%

5 of 5,444 flights

Explore origin & destination

On-time and delay data for the airports this route connects.

MSP - Minneapolis

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Minneapolis, MN.

MSP on-time profile

SEA - Seattle

Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Seattle, WA.

SEA on-time profile

Compare the two airports

See MSP and SEA side by side on delays, cancellations, and reliability.

Compare MSP vs SEA

Origin-hub reliability standing

Among MSP's stronger departures

MSP → SEA posts a 87% on-time rate, landing in the ≥85% band with 42 of 99 BTS-tracked routes leaving Minneapolis. The same hub also shows 57 mid-band and 0 challenged departures · fleet-wide on-time rank #636 of 4927 (highest on-time = #1).

What the Data Says About MSP to SEA

Minneapolis to Seattle (MSP to SEA) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 87% on-time rate across 15,524 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 61.7 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 1,399 miles and is served by 3 carriers. Over the most recent 24 months, 38 of 5,444 flights were cancelled (0.7%) and 5 diverted (0.1%).

The monthly split is wide on this route: Feb 2024 posted the strongest performance at 95% on-time, while Dec 2025 came in at just 52% - a 43-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.

On the multi-year calendar, MSP–SEA peaks in September at 92.0% on-time while August carries the heaviest traffic (~264 flights per month) ; the softest month is December at 78.8%, a 13.2-point swing that repeats because the corridor's weather and holiday mix stays stable year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does MSP to SEA rank among US routes by traffic? ▼
According to PlainFlights' route traffic ranking, MSP to SEA ranks #575 of 4927 tracked domestic routes by total flights (most flights = #1). That ordinal matches our busiest-routes listing (total_flights DESC). See /methodology#corpus-placement for the exact sort basis.
How often are flights delayed from MSP to SEA? ▼
Flights from Minneapolis to Seattle have a 87% on-time rate based on 15,524 flights. The average delay is 61.7 minutes. The best recent month was Feb 2024 with 95% on-time.
What is the cancellation rate for MSP to SEA? ▼
Over the last 24 months, 0.7% of flights on this route were cancelled (38 of 5,444 flights) and 0.1% were diverted.
How far is the flight from MSP to SEA? ▼
The flight distance from Minneapolis (MSP) to Seattle (SEA) is approximately 1,399 miles. This route is served by 3 carriers.
When is the best time to fly from MSP to SEA? ▼
The best recent month for on-time performance was Feb 2024 (95% on-time). The worst was Dec 2025 (52% on-time). Consider booking during months with historically better performance.

Airports on this route

MSP Airport

Minneapolis
SEA Airport

Seattle
Data source

Data Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), On-Time Performance Data. Statistics reflect cumulative performance across all available reporting periods.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Using MSP–SEA data

MSP–SEA runs 8 pts above the national 79% average; the remaining risk is month-to-month swing and carrier mix, not a weak headline rate.

  • Compare MSP and SEA airport profiles: delay causes and top routes differ even on the same corridor. MSP airport
  • If your dates flex, September (92.0% on-time) beats December (78.8%) on this corridor. Seasonal chart
  • 4 other routes post a similar 87% on-time rate; compare before you commit to this pairing. Similar routes

On-time rate reflects the BTS historical average across all reporting carriers on this origin–destination pair, not any single flight or booking recommendation.

Data sourced from U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) On-Time Performance data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFlights

Every figure on PlainFlights is rendered directly from BTS On-Time Performance data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates this specific route's on-time performance and monthly trend, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.