Alaska vs Southwest: On-Time Performance Compared

Last 12 months · Aug 2025 – Jul 2026

Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026

Alaska was more punctual than Southwest over the last 12 months: 79.6% of its flights arrived on time, against 76.4%.

Southwest cancelled fewer flights (0.9% vs 1.2%), and late flights averaged 52 minutes late on Alaska vs 53 on Southwest.

On the 92 routes both airlines fly regularly, Alaska had the better on-time record on 54 and Southwest on 38.

Alaska vs Southwest: key numbers

Last 12 months, all flights each airline operated.

AlaskaSouthwest

On-time arrivals79.6%76.4%

On-time departures79.9%71.8%

Cancelled1.2%0.9%

Diverted0.3%0.2%

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

AlaskaSouthwest

60%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.

AlaskaSouthwest

Airline (carrier)33.1%28.4%

Weather4.4%2.3%

Air traffic system (NAS)24.1%17.9%

Security0.4%0.3%

Late-arriving aircraft37.9%51.1%

92 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	Southwest on time	Alaska flights	Southwest flights
OGG → HNL	77.0%	94.1%	4,069	2,861
HNL → OGG	77.9%	92.6%	4,066	2,861
LIH → HNL	78.2%	95.2%	3,446	1,770
HNL → LIH	78.2%	92.7%	3,443	1,770
KOA → HNL	77.6%	95.5%	3,231	1,770
HNL → KOA	81.8%	91.0%	3,229	1,770
HNL → ITO	79.2%	89.5%	2,633	1,830
ITO → HNL	74.8%	94.1%	2,630	1,830
SMF → SAN	83.8%	69.6%	216	3,804
SAN → SMF	75.8%	74.7%	216	3,800
SEA → PHX	79.1%	67.4%	2,887	1,039
PHX → SEA	84.5%	62.8%	2,884	1,040
LAS → SEA	83.1%	71.5%	2,621	977
SEA → LAS	78.8%	70.1%	2,622	976
PHX → SAN	85.5%	70.3%	218	3,219
SAN → PHX	77.9%	73.2%	217	3,197
SEA → DEN	77.9%	68.2%	1,551	1,345
DEN → SEA	74.9%	61.1%	1,551	1,341
SEA → SAN	73.9%	51.7%	2,741	149
SAN → SEA	78.3%	58.8%	2,739	149
DEN → SAN	83.6%	69.2%	495	2,388
SAN → DEN	85.3%	72.0%	495	2,386
SEA → SJC	81.1%	72.1%	1,881	905
SJC → SEA	81.5%	77.2%	1,878	906
LAS → PDX	83.5%	72.9%	1,557	1,150