76% of flights from Dallas to Chicago arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 10 a.m. departures ran on time 83% of the time; the 8 a.m. ones 82%. 9% of flights arrived more than an hour late or not at all.
How late?
The on-time rate treats a flight 20 minutes late the same as one 5 hours late. Here's the split for DAL → ORD: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 58% of the time. About 1 in 15 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 187 three hours or more; 0.8% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early76%
- 15–30 min late8.6%
- 30–60 min late7.0%
- 1–2 hours late4.0%
- 2–3 hours late2.1%
- 3+ hours late0.5%
- Diverted1.1%
- Cancelled0.8%
Share of all 374 scheduled flights, past 12 months, by arrival time against schedule.
By airline
| Airline | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | 1h+ late | Avg when late | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 374 | 76% | 0.8% | −4 min | 6.7% | +58 min | Southwest Airlines |
Airline = the name on the ticket. Regional flights (e.g. "Delta Connection") count under the ticketing airline, and the operator is listed.
Best time of day to fly
On-time rate by scheduled departure hour (local time at DAL). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: February (94%). Worst: May (60%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 58 | — | — |
| Tuesday | 53 | — | — |
| Wednesday | 53 | — | — |
| Thursday | 56 | — | — |
| Friday | 56 | — | — |
| Saturday | 47 | — | — |
| Sunday | 51 | — | — |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: air traffic/airport 2 · weather 1
Month by month
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Oct 19, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Oct 28, 2025 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
| Oct 27, 2025 | 3 | 33% | 0 |
| Sep 26, 2025 | 3 | 33% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Dallas or Chicago. None has been clearly more reliable than DAL → ORD.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAL → ORD (this route) | 374 | 76% | 0.8% |
| DAL → MDW Dallas Love Field to Chicago Midway | 2,192 | 68% | 2.1% |
| DFW → ORD Dallas/Fort Worth to Chicago O'Hare | 7,115 | 66% | 2.8% |
Questions
How often are flights from DAL to ORD on time?
76% of 374 scheduled flights from Dallas, TX to Chicago, IL arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 0.8% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly DAL to ORD?
Flights scheduled to leave at 10 a.m. were the most reliable (83% on time). The 8 a.m. departures were the least (82%).
What month has the most delays from DAL to ORD?
May (60% on time). The best month is February (94%), over 2023–2026.
Related
- ORD → DAL (return)
- Dallas Love Field (DAL) delays by hour
- Flights into Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
- Southwest Airlines on-time record
- Connecting off this flight? Check the risk
Domestic flights by the airlines that report to the U.S. DOT, plus their regional partners. "On time" means arriving less than 15 minutes after schedule; cancelled and diverted flights count as not on time. Past performance is a guide, not a forecast. Method.