Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Los Angeles (LAX): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Los Angeles (LAX) effectively runs on two schedules. In February 2025, 84% of arrivals were on time; in July 2024 that fell to 60% — a 24-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 74% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (83% vs 63%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 74%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.7%
- Flights/day
- 17
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 23m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,235 mi
Best airline from DFW to LAX
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 89% | 11 min | 1.3% | 1,434 |
| Spirit Airlines | 82% | 13 min | 1.4% | 1,595 |
| Frontier Airlines | 71% | 19 min | 1.0% | 785 |
| American Airlines | 70% | 21 min | 1.9% | 9,451 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DFW to LAX
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 10 p.m. departures (60%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 73% | 20 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 76% | 17 min |
| Wednesday | 75% | 19 min |
| Thursday | 74% | 17 min |
| Friday | 74% | 17 min |
| Saturday | 74% | 19 min |
| Sunday | 71% | 23 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft42%
- Airline operations39%
- National airspace system13%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DFW to LAX delayed?
- 26% of DFW–LAX flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 19 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DFW to LAX?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 89%, based on 1,434 flights. 4 airlines flew DFW–LAX frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DFW to LAX?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (90% on-time), while departures around 10 p.m. have the worst (60%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DFW to LAX?
- The scheduled DFW–LAX flight time averages 3h 23m over 1,235 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 26% of the time.
- How often are DFW to LAX flights cancelled?
- 1.7% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from DFW to LAX?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 60% of arrivals on time. The best was February 2025 at 84%. If your dates are flexible, that 24-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 13,265 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.