Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Philadelphia (PHL): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The biggest risk when flying DFW to PHL isn't a late arrival — it's not departing at all. 3% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled, several times the typical US rate. When flights do go, 71% land on time, below the national average of 78%. American Airlines has been the safer pick, arriving on time 71% of the time.
- On-time
- 71%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 23 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.0%
- Flights/day
- 9.5
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 15m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,303 mi
Best airline from DFW to PHL
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlinesmost reliable | 71% | 22 min | 3.0% | 6,624 |
| Frontier Airlines | 68% | 31 min | 3.2% | 592 |
| Spirit Airlines | 56% | 36 min | 3.2% | 63 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DFW to PHL
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (88% on-time); avoid 3 p.m. departures (51%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 72% | 27 min |
| Tuesday | 74% | 21 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 75% | 20 min |
| Thursday | 71% | 21 min |
| Friday | 69% | 24 min |
| Saturday | 70% | 23 min |
| Sunday | 67% | 25 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft44%
- Airline operations35%
- National airspace system13%
- 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 2024-07 and 2026-07. 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 71%, based on 6,624 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 6 a.m. have the best record (88% 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 15m 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?
- 3% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07 — several times the typical US rate, so consider earlier departures or backup options.
- 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.
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Based on 7,279 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.