Dallas–Fort Worth Airports Compared: DFW vs DAL Delays and Cancellations
Dallas–Fort Worth travelers choose between 2 airports: DFW and Love Field (DAL). Across January 2023 to December 2025, delay rates for flights departing them ranged from 22.6% at DAL to 26.7% at DFW, a spread of 4.1 points. Cancellations in 2024 to 2025 ranged from 1.28% to 2.31%. The table uses BTS data for flights departing each airport.
Delay window: January 2023 to December 2025. Cancellation window: 2024 to 2025. Last updated: 2026-10-01. Delayed means a flight arrived 15 or more minutes after its scheduled arrival, the BTS and DOT on-time standard. Cancelled and diverted flights are excluded from delay rates. Historical BTS figures are separate from DelayGuard's per-flight model probability and from live FAA, weather and ground-delay status.
Dallas–Fort Worth airports head to head| Airport | Delayed 15+ min | Flights | Cancelled | Before 8 AM | After 8 PM | Best hour | Worst hour | Worst month | Largest carrier in this window |
|---|
| DFW | 26.7% | 893,078 | 2.31% | 14.3% | 34.0% | 5 AM (12.5%) | 11 PM (46.3%) | June (36.3%) | American Airlines (53.8%) |
| Love Field (DAL) | 22.6% | 215,350 | 1.28% | 7.8% | 36.5% | 6 AM (6.3%) | 10 PM (40.9%) | June (33.3%) | Southwest Airlines (96.6%) |
Pick this airport if
- Pick DAL if you want the lowest overall delay rate (22.6% of departures arrived 15+ minutes late).
- Pick DAL if avoiding cancellations matters most (1.28% of scheduled departures cancelled, 2024 to 2025).
- Pick DAL for a flight before 8 AM (7.8% late, the lowest of the set).
- Pick DFW if you must fly after 8 PM (34.0% late, the lowest of the set).
What shapes each airport
- DFW: American Airlines flies 53.8% of departures, so the airport's record tracks its schedule.
- DAL: Southwest Airlines flies 96.6% of departures, so the airport's record tracks its schedule.
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Questions
- Which Dallas–Fort Worth airport has the fewest delays?
- Love Field (DAL) has the lowest delay rate at 22.6% across 215,350 departures, January 2023 to December 2025. The others: DFW 26.7%.
- Which Dallas–Fort Worth airport cancels the fewest flights?
- Love Field (DAL) at 1.28% of 144,040 scheduled departures, 2024 to 2025.
- Is the cheapest Dallas–Fort Worth airport worth a higher delay risk?
- The delay-rate gap across these airports is 4.1 points. This page compares reliability only, not fares. Check a specific flight in the predictor before you decide.