Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Santa Ana (SNA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Santa Ana (SNA) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 90% of arrivals were on time; in August 2025 that fell to 68% — a 22-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 79% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (82% vs 72%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 79%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.4%
- Flights/day
- 8.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 22m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,205 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DFW to SNA
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (89% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (68%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 75% | 15 min |
| Tuesday | 81% | 15 min |
| Wednesday | 77% | 16 min |
| Thursday | 79% | 15 min |
| Fridaybest | 82% | 11 min |
| Saturday | 80% | 13 min |
| Sunday | 77% | 15 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%
- Weather9%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DFW to SNA delayed?
- 21% of DFW–SNA 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 14 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DFW to SNA?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (89% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (68%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DFW to SNA?
- The scheduled DFW–SNA flight time averages 3h 22m over 1,205 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 21% of the time.
- How often are DFW to SNA flights cancelled?
- 2.4% 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 SNA?
- August 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 68% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 22-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 5,693 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.