Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Philadelphia (PHL): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Philadelphia (PHL) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2025, 83% of arrivals were on time; in July 2024 that fell to 54% — a 29-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 71% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (84% vs 59%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 71%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 23 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.8%
- Flights/day
- 9.3
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 14m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,303 mi
Best airline from DFW to PHL
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlinesmost reliable | 72% | 22 min | 2.8% | 6,282 |
| Frontier Airlines | 67% | 32 min | 2.8% | 562 |
| Spirit Airlines | 60% | 34 min | 3.7% | 82 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DFW to PHL
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (86% on-time); avoid 3 p.m. departures (51%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 72% | 27 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 75% | 20 min |
| Wednesday | 74% | 22 min |
| Thursday | 72% | 20 min |
| Friday | 70% | 22 min |
| Saturday | 70% | 23 min |
| Sunday | 68% | 26 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft43%
- Airline operations35%
- National airspace system14%
- Weather8%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DFW to PHL delayed?
- 29% of DFW–PHL 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 23 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DFW to PHL?
- American Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 72%, based on 6,282 flights. 3 airlines flew DFW–PHL frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DFW to PHL?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (86% on-time), while departures around 3 p.m. have the worst (51%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DFW to PHL?
- The scheduled DFW–PHL flight time averages 3h 14m over 1,303 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 29% of the time.
- How often are DFW to PHL flights cancelled?
- 2.8% 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 PHL?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 54% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 83%. If your dates are flexible, that 29-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from DFW
Based on 6,926 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.