73% of flights from Los Angeles to Dallas arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 7 a.m. departures ran on time 86% of the time; the 4 p.m. ones 60%. Most reliable airline: Delta Air Lines (84%). 11% 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 LAX → DFW: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 54% of the time. About 1 in 12 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 52 three hours or more; 2.2% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early73%
- 15–30 min late8.7%
- 30–60 min late7.5%
- 1–2 hours late4.8%
- 2–3 hours late1.5%
- 3+ hours late1.9%
- Diverted0.6%
- Cancelled2.2%
Share of all 6,178 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 4,528 | 72% | 2.2% | −3 min | 8.8% | +80 min | American Airlines |
| Delta Air Lines | 757 | 84% | 1.5% | −7 min | 5.0% | +75 min | Delta Air Lines |
| Frontier Airlines | 510 | 71% | 1.8% | −5 min | 8.6% | +88 min | Frontier Airlines |
| Spirit Airlines | 383 | 68% | 4.2% | +2 min | 7.0% | +59 min | Spirit Airlines |
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 LAX). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | American Airlines | Delta Air Lines | Frontier Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 a.m. | 85% | — | — |
| 1 a.m. | 83% | — | — |
| 6 a.m. | 85% | — | — |
| 7 a.m. | 86% | — | — |
| 8 a.m. | 81% | 87% | — |
| 9 a.m. | 67% | 85% | — |
| 10 a.m. | 73% | — | — |
| 11 a.m. | 65% | — | — |
| noon | 64% | — | — |
| 1 p.m. | 57% | — | — |
| 2 p.m. | 68% | — | — |
| 3 p.m. | 64% | — | — |
| 4 p.m. | 60% | — | — |
| 5 p.m. | 66% | — | — |
| 6 p.m. | 67% | 81% | 63% |
| 11 p.m. | 72% | — | — |
Last flight of the day
On LAX → DFW, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 1.7% of the time, against 2.3% for its earlier flights, so here the last flight is actually the safer one. It arrived 3+ hours late 1.2% of the time (earlier flights: 2.1%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 11:48 p.m. | 1.4% | 0.5% | 2.3% | first flight 12:34 a.m. |
| Delta Air Lines | 6:53 p.m. | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.3% | first flight 7:35 a.m. |
| Frontier Airlines | 6:25 p.m. | 2.4% | 2.4% | 0.6% | first flight 9:39 a.m. |
| Spirit Airlines | — | 2.1% | 0.7% | 6.3% | — |
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: February (83%). Worst: July (66%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 925 | 71% | 2.5% |
| Tuesday | 870 | 75% | 2.3% |
| Wednesday | 855 | 79% | 0.7% |
| Thursday | 889 | 76% | 0.9% |
| Friday | 903 | 72% | 3.0% |
| Saturday | 839 | 69% | 2.7% |
| Sunday | 897 | 68% | 3.3% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 98 · airline 36 · air traffic/airport 3
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F9 4964 | 5:45 a.m. | 230 | 72% | 2.2% | −6 min | Frontier Airlines |
| AA 2811 | 6:00 a.m. | 182 | 90% | 0.5% | −9 min | American Airlines |
| AA 2746 | 7:00 a.m. | 326 | 86% | 0.6% | −10 min | American Airlines |
| DL 521 | 7:35 a.m. | 353 | 88% | 1.7% | −8 min | Delta Air Lines |
| AA 2766 | 8:00 a.m. | 133 | 87% | 0.0% | −10 min | American Airlines |
| AA 2024 | 4:15 p.m. | 138 | 57% | 2.9% | +8 min | American Airlines |
| DL 420 | 6:59 p.m. | 357 | 80% | 1.4% | −6 min | Delta Air Lines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26, 2026 | 16 | 0% | 8 |
| Nov 20, 2025 | 19 | 5% | 6 |
| Jan 24, 2026 | 13 | 8% | 11 |
| Nov 24, 2025 | 18 | 11% | 0 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 16 | 13% | 10 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Los Angeles or Dallas. LGB → DAL has been 10 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAX → DFW (this route) | 6,178 | 73% | 2.2% |
| LGB → DAL Long Beach to Dallas Love Field | 484 | 83% | 0.8% |
| BUR → DAL Hollywood Burbank to Dallas Love Field | 384 | 82% | 1.0% |
| BUR → DFW Hollywood Burbank to Dallas/Fort Worth | 728 | 79% | 2.6% |
| SNA → DFW Orange County John Wayne to Dallas/Fort Worth | 2,957 | 79% | 2.7% |
| ONT → DFW Ontario to Dallas/Fort Worth | 2,274 | 78% | 2.4% |
| SNA → DAL Orange County John Wayne to Dallas Love Field | 368 | 78% | 0.5% |
Questions
How often are flights from LAX to DFW on time?
73% of 6,178 scheduled flights from Los Angeles, CA to Dallas/Fort Worth, TX arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 2.2% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly LAX to DFW?
Flights scheduled to leave at 7 a.m. were the most reliable (86% on time). The 4 p.m. departures were the least (60%).
Which airline is most on time from LAX to DFW?
Delta Air Lines: 84% of its 757 flights on the route arrived on time. American Airlines: 72%. Frontier Airlines: 71%. Spirit Airlines: 68%.
What month has the most delays from LAX to DFW?
July (66% on time). The best month is February (83%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from LAX to DFW more likely to be cancelled?
No, the opposite. Each airline's last LAX–DFW flight of the day was cancelled 1.7% of the time over the past year, against 2.3% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- DFW → LAX (return)
- Los Angeles LAX (LAX) delays by hour
- Flights into Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)
- American Airlines on-time record
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- Frontier Airlines on-time record
- Spirit Airlines 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.