Dallas Airport Delays: DFW vs Love Field Compared

Dallas Love Field recorded a slightly higher on-time departure rate than DFW—72.9% versus 72.3%—and a 16.2-minute average departure delay versus 21.0 minutes at DFW. DFW, however, served 187 destinations in the dataset, more than twice Love Field’s 83.

All figures below describe historical departures, not live airport conditions or a prediction for an individual flight.

Key takeaways

• Dallas Love Field recorded 72.9% on-time departures, a 0.6-point lead over DFW’s 72.3%.
• Love Field’s average departure delay was 16.2 minutes, 4.8 minutes shorter than DFW’s 21.0 minutes.
• Love Field recorded a 1.3% cancellation rate, compared with 2.5% at DFW.
• DFW served 187 destinations and 12 airlines in the dataset; Love Field served 83 destinations and three airlines.

Which Dallas–Fort Worth airport had the strongest historical departure record?

Dallas Love Field recorded a slightly higher on-time departure rate than DFW—72.9% versus 72.3%—and a 16.2-minute average departure delay versus 21.0 minutes at DFW. DFW, however, served 187 destinations in the dataset, more than twice Love Field’s 83.

The following comparison keeps the measures separate so a higher on-time rate is not mistaken for a lower cancellation rate or a larger flight network.

• Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) — 72.3% on-time departures, 21.0 minutes average departure delay, 2.5% cancelled, 630,959 departures, 187 destinations, and 12 airlines.
• Dallas Love Field (DAL) — 72.9% on-time departures, 16.2 minutes average departure delay, 1.3% cancelled, 142,882 departures, 83 destinations, and 3 airlines.

When should the historical winner change the airport choice?

Love Field had the better historical departure-reliability figures in this comparison. That does not make it automatically better for every trip: DFW’s much larger network can provide the only nonstop, a better fare, or more recovery choices after a disruption. Compare like-for-like itineraries before treating the airport average as decisive.

The term “on time” follows FlightRecord’s methodology: a flight arriving less than 15 minutes late. This guide reports departure-side airport measures, so it should not be read as an arrival guarantee.

How should travelers choose between Dallas–Fort Worth airports?

Use the airport comparison after narrowing the decision to real, bookable flights. These three checks keep a broad historical average in the right role.

• 1. Check whether the same itinerary can leave from both airports; comparing different routes or airlines can hide the trade-off you actually face.
• 2. When options are comparable, Love Field’s lower average departure delay and cancellation rate favor it on historical reliability.
• 3. If DFW is the only airport with a nonstop or flexible backup flights, weigh that network advantage alongside its weaker historical averages.

How were these airport delay figures calculated?

FlightRecord analyzed 14,111,289 U.S. domestic flight records from 2024-06 through 2026-05—a 24-month period. The site aggregates the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ Airline On-Time Statistics by airport, rather than presenting a live feed. The federal source reports scheduled and actual times, cancellations, diversions, and airport- and airline-level statistics.

For definitions, sample rules, and limitations, read FlightRecord’s full methodology. Historical performance does not guarantee that a future flight will be on time.

Frequently asked questions

Is Dallas Love Field more reliable than DFW?

Dallas Love Field recorded a modestly higher on-time departure rate, a shorter average departure delay, and a lower cancellation rate than DFW in FlightRecord’s June 2024–May 2026 dataset. The difference is historical, not a prediction for every day or flight, and DFW serves far more destinations.

Why would I still fly from DFW if Love Field has better delay figures?

DFW served 187 destinations in the dataset, compared with 83 at Love Field. That broader network can provide a nonstop itinerary, a preferred airline, lower fare, or more same-day alternatives if a flight is disrupted. Reliability is one decision factor, not the only one.

Which Dallas airport has fewer cancellations?

Dallas Love Field recorded a 1.3% cancellation rate in the 24-month dataset, compared with 2.5% at DFW. Cancellation rate measures a different outcome from the on-time rate, so travelers should compare both before drawing a reliability conclusion.

Are these DFW and Love Field figures live?

No. The figures are historical aggregates for departures from June 2024 through May 2026. They are useful for comparing past patterns, but airline operations, weather, and air-traffic conditions can change the outcome of a specific departure.