Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to San Diego (SAN): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to San Diego (SAN) effectively runs on two schedules. In March 2026, 77% of arrivals were on time; in June 2026 that fell to 48% — a 29-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 64% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (77% vs 54%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 64%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 26 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.5%
- Flights/day
- 10
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 10m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,171 mi
Best airline from DFW to SAN
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier Airlinesmost reliable | 65% | 31 min | 2.3% | 568 |
| American Airlines | 64% | 25 min | 2.6% | 6,603 |
| Alaska Airlines | 57% | 32 min | 0.5% | 202 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DFW to SAN
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (84% on-time); avoid 11 p.m. departures (38%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 62% | 30 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 69% | 25 min |
| Wednesday | 67% | 21 min |
| Thursday | 62% | 27 min |
| Friday | 62% | 28 min |
| Saturday | 66% | 22 min |
| Sunday | 63% | 28 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft47%
- Airline operations32%
- National airspace system14%
- Weather7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DFW to SAN delayed?
- 36% of DFW–SAN 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 26 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DFW to SAN?
- Frontier Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 65%, based on 568 flights. 3 airlines flew DFW–SAN frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DFW to SAN?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (84% on-time), while departures around 11 p.m. have the worst (38%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DFW to SAN?
- The scheduled DFW–SAN flight time averages 3h 10m over 1,171 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 36% of the time.
- How often are DFW to SAN flights cancelled?
- 2.5% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from DFW to SAN?
- June 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 48% of arrivals on time. The best was March 2026 at 77%. If your dates are flexible, that 29-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 7,373 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.