Best Time to Fly SFO to DFW: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
San Francisco International → Dallas/Fort Worth International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
4,180 flights were scheduled from San Francisco (SFO) to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) in the last 12 months, and 72.9% of those that flew arrived on time, 4.8 points below the US average of 77.6%.
United Airlines was the most punctual of the 3 airlines on the route at 76.4%, while Frontier Airlines trailed at 60.1%.
September has been the best month (83% on time) and Friday the weakest day of the week (73%).
2.4% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
SFO to DFW on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 76.4% | 54 min | 0.5% | 894 |
| American Airlines | 72.7% | 97 min | 2.8% | 3,071 |
| Frontier Airlines | 60.1% | 53 min | 4.5% | 198 |
| SkyWest Airlines | Limited data | 17 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly SFO to DFW
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 8,323 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12am–1am | 75.9% | 4.7% | 429 |
| 1am–2am | Limited data | 2 | |
| 5am–6am | 93.5% | 1.2% | 332 |
| 6am–7am | 89.8% | 2.1% | 465 |
| 7am–8am | 87.1% | 1.6% | 578 |
| 8am–9am | 84.1% | 1.9% | 744 |
| 9am–10am | 82.2% | 1.7% | 177 |
| 10am–11am | 79.0% | 1.3% | 926 |
| 11am–12pm | 69.0% | 0.8% | 624 |
| 12pm–1pm | 70.9% | 1.2% | 664 |
| 1pm–2pm | 60.2% | 0.4% | 244 |
| 2pm–3pm | 58.1% | 3.4% | 472 |
| 3pm–4pm | 59.2% | 2.4% | 370 |
| 4pm–5pm | 73.6% | 1.4% | 589 |
| 5pm–6pm | 71.5% | 4.7% | 343 |
| 6pm–7pm | 76.8% | 1.2% | 423 |
| 7pm–8pm | Limited data | 1 | |
| 8pm–9pm | Limited data | 2 | |
| 11pm–12am | 69.5% | 2.9% | 938 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on SFO to DFW
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | 80.0% | +3.0 pts | 0.0% | 156 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 70.7% | -6.3 pts | 2.1% | 335 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 68.6% | -8.4 pts | 1.9% | 1,564 |
| All other days | 77.0% | — | 2.1% | 6,268 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).