San Diego (SAN) to Dallas (DAL): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
San Diego (SAN) to Dallas (DAL) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2025, 84% of arrivals were on time; in May 2026 that fell to 58% — a 26-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 72% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (83% vs 60%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 72%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 16 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.3%
- Flights/day
- 4.3
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 58m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,182 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SAN to DAL
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (91% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (54%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 68% | 18 min |
| Tuesday | 77% | 13 min |
| Wednesday | 80% | 11 min |
| Thursday | 67% | 20 min |
| Friday | 68% | 20 min |
| Saturdaybest | 82% | 11 min |
| Sunday | 63% | 19 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft53%
- Airline operations28%
- National airspace system18%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SAN to DAL delayed?
- 29% of SAN–DAL 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 16 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SAN to DAL?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (91% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (54%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SAN to DAL?
- The scheduled SAN–DAL flight time averages 2h 58m over 1,182 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 29% of the time.
- How often are SAN to DAL flights cancelled?
- 1.3% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from SAN to DAL?
- May 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 58% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 84%. If your dates are flexible, that 26-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,278 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.