72% of flights from Dallas to Los Angeles arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 6 a.m. departures ran on time 88% of the time; the 6 p.m. ones 56%. Most reliable airline: Delta Air Lines (88%). 11% 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 DFW → LAX: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 53% of the time. About 1 in 11 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 62 three hours or more; 2.2% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early72%
- 15–30 min late8.7%
- 30–60 min late8.0%
- 1–2 hours late5.4%
- 2–3 hours late1.7%
- 3+ hours late1.6%
- Diverted0.0%
- Cancelled2.2%
Share of all 6,184 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 4,536 | 69% | 2.3% | −2 min | 9.4% | +64 min | American Airlines |
| Delta Air Lines | 757 | 88% | 1.6% | −9 min | 5.0% | +95 min | Delta Air Lines |
| Frontier Airlines | 510 | 78% | 1.0% | −10 min | 9.0% | +78 min | Frontier Airlines |
| Spirit Airlines | 381 | 78% | 3.7% | −7 min | 7.1% | +72 min | Spirit 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 DFW). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | American Airlines | Delta Air Lines | Frontier Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 86% | 90% | — |
| 7 a.m. | 81% | 89% | 87% |
| 8 a.m. | 79% | — | — |
| 9 a.m. | 74% | — | — |
| 10 a.m. | 77% | — | — |
| 11 a.m. | 71% | — | — |
| noon | 76% | — | — |
| 1 p.m. | 73% | — | — |
| 2 p.m. | 65% | — | — |
| 3 p.m. | 55% | — | — |
| 4 p.m. | 62% | 85% | 75% |
| 5 p.m. | 65% | — | — |
| 6 p.m. | 56% | — | — |
| 7 p.m. | 65% | — | — |
| 8 p.m. | 52% | — | — |
| 9 p.m. | 58% | — | — |
| 10 p.m. | 53% | — | — |
Last flight of the day
On DFW → LAX, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 2.5% of the time, against 2.1% for its earlier flights, about the same. It arrived 3+ hours late 2.1% of the time (earlier flights: 1.6%). It matters more than the numbers suggest. Miss an earlier flight and there's another one that evening; miss the last one and you're usually waiting until morning.
| Airline | Last departure | Last: cancelled | Last: 3h+ late | Earlier: cancelled | Next morning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 10:31 p.m. | 3.8% | 3.0% | 2.1% | first flight 6:00 a.m. |
| Delta Air Lines | 4:25 p.m. | 0.6% | 1.7% | 2.0% | first flight 7:35 a.m. |
| Frontier Airlines | 4:08 p.m. | 1.2% | 2.4% | 0.0% | first flight 7:35 a.m. |
| Spirit Airlines | — | 5.8% | 0.7% | 3.6% | — |
Last flight = the airline's last scheduled departure on this route that day, on days it flies the route at least twice; past 12 months. Times are typical scheduled times over the latest three months.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: February (79%). Worst: May (62%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 923 | 71% | 2.2% |
| Tuesday | 848 | 75% | 1.9% |
| Wednesday | 853 | 79% | 0.9% |
| Thursday | 910 | 74% | 1.0% |
| Friday | 905 | 71% | 2.1% |
| Saturday | 830 | 70% | 3.3% |
| Sunday | 915 | 68% | 3.7% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 96 · airline 34 · air traffic/airport 3
Month by month
Flight numbers on this route
Regular flights with at least 120 scheduled trips in the past year. Sorted by departure time.
| Flight | Departs | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL 439 | 6:15 a.m. | 365 | 90% | 2.7% | −8 min | Delta Air Lines |
| AA 3317 | 7:10 a.m. | 132 | 86% | 0.0% | −13 min | American Airlines |
| F9 2273 | 7:35 a.m. | 126 | 85% | 0.0% | −14 min | Frontier Airlines |
| AA 1996 | 8:35 a.m. | 147 | 82% | 1.4% | −5 min | American Airlines |
| AA 500 | 9:35 a.m. | 155 | 75% | 2.6% | −7 min | American Airlines |
| AA 3334 | 12:58 p.m. | 120 | 75% | 1.7% | −5 min | American Airlines |
| F9 4963 | 4:08 p.m. | 152 | 75% | 1.3% | −10 min | Frontier Airlines |
| DL 948 | 4:10 p.m. | 273 | 85% | 0.4% | −10 min | Delta Air Lines |
| F9 3211 | 4:42 p.m. | 232 | 77% | 1.3% | −8 min | Frontier Airlines |
| AA 1669 | 9:20 p.m. | 181 | 52% | 2.8% | +10 min | American Airlines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26, 2026 | 16 | 0% | 10 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 16 | 0% | 12 |
| Jan 24, 2026 | 13 | 0% | 12 |
| Jun 7, 2026 | 18 | 11% | 3 |
| Jun 19, 2026 | 17 | 12% | 4 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Dallas or Los Angeles. DFW → SNA has been 4 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| DFW → LAX (this route) | 6,184 | 72% | 2.1% |
| DFW → SNA Dallas/Fort Worth to Orange County John Wayne | 2,956 | 77% | 2.4% |
| DAL → BUR Dallas Love Field to Hollywood Burbank | 394 | 70% | 1.5% |
| DAL → LGB Dallas Love Field to Long Beach | 484 | 70% | 1.2% |
| DFW → ONT Dallas/Fort Worth to Ontario | 2,274 | 70% | 2.2% |
| DAL → SNA Dallas Love Field to Orange County John Wayne | 368 | 70% | 0.8% |
| DAL → LAX Dallas Love Field to Los Angeles LAX | 1,485 | 68% | 1.0% |
Questions
How often are flights from DFW to LAX on time?
72% of 6,184 scheduled flights from Dallas/Fort Worth, TX to Los Angeles, CA arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 2.1% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly DFW to LAX?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (88% on time). The 6 p.m. departures were the least (56%).
Which airline is most on time from DFW to LAX?
Delta Air Lines: 88% of its 757 flights on the route arrived on time. American Airlines: 69%. Frontier Airlines: 78%. Spirit Airlines: 78%.
What month has the most delays from DFW to LAX?
May (62% on time). The best month is February (79%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from DFW to LAX more likely to be cancelled?
Not much. Each airline's last DFW–LAX flight of the day was cancelled 2.5% of the time over the past year, against 2.1% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- LAX → DFW (return)
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) delays by hour
- Flights into Los Angeles LAX (LAX)
- American Airlines on-time record
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- Frontier Airlines on-time record
- Spirit 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.