73% of flights from Dallas to Houston 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 93% of the time; the 10 p.m. ones 50%. 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 → HOU: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 61% of the time. About 1 in 15 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 106 three hours or more; 2.0% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early73%
- 15–30 min late10%
- 30–60 min late7.8%
- 1–2 hours late4.7%
- 2–3 hours late1.2%
- 3+ hours late0.9%
- Diverted0.1%
- Cancelled2.0%
Share of all 4,044 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 | 4,044 | 73% | 1.9% | −5 min | 6.8% | +54 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.
Last flight of the day
On DAL → HOU, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 2.2% of the time, against 1.9% for its earlier flights, about the same. It arrived 3+ hours late 1.1% of the time (earlier flights: 0.9%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 9:00 p.m. | 2.2% | 1.1% | 1.9% | first flight 6:00 a.m. |
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 (84%). Worst: May (62%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 613 | 77% | 2.6% |
| Tuesday | 610 | 80% | 1.8% |
| Wednesday | 611 | 75% | 1.3% |
| Thursday | 603 | 74% | 1.2% |
| Friday | 597 | 70% | 1.5% |
| Saturday | 450 | 71% | 2.2% |
| Sunday | 560 | 65% | 3.2% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: airline 34 · weather 33 · air traffic/airport 12
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WN 1628 | 6:00 a.m. | 283 | 93% | 1.1% | −10 min | Southwest Airlines |
| WN 1 | 7:00 a.m. | 195 | 90% | 0.0% | −8 min | Southwest Airlines |
| WN 7 | 8:30 a.m. | 173 | 85% | 0.0% | −8 min | Southwest Airlines |
| WN 15 | 10:00 a.m. | 157 | 90% | 2.5% | −12 min | Southwest Airlines |
| WN 19 | 11:30 a.m. | 201 | 75% | 5.0% | −10 min | Southwest Airlines |
| WN 25 | 12:30 p.m. | 143 | 75% | 0.7% | −8 min | Southwest Airlines |
| WN 31 | 2:00 p.m. | 135 | 80% | 0.7% | −8 min | Southwest Airlines |
| WN 37 | 3:30 p.m. | 200 | 62% | 5.0% | −1 min | Southwest Airlines |
| WN 39 | 4:00 p.m. | 139 | 71% | 1.4% | −6 min | Southwest Airlines |
| WN 41 | 4:30 p.m. | 181 | 65% | 2.2% | 0 min | Southwest Airlines |
| WN 45 | 5:30 p.m. | 159 | 62% | 0.6% | +5 min | Southwest Airlines |
| WN 57 | 8:30 p.m. | 216 | 64% | 2.8% | +2 min | Southwest Airlines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 19, 2026 | 11 | 0% | 1 |
| Jan 24, 2026 | 8 | 0% | 6 |
| Apr 12, 2026 | 11 | 9% | 0 |
| Jun 7, 2026 | 10 | 10% | 0 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 12 | 17% | 6 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Dallas or Houston. None has been clearly more reliable than DAL → HOU.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAL → HOU (this route) | 4,044 | 73% | 1.9% |
| DFW → HOU Dallas/Fort Worth to Houston Hobby | 1,972 | 74% | 3.6% |
| DFW → IAH Dallas/Fort Worth to Houston Bush Intercontinental | 6,085 | 69% | 2.4% |
Questions
How often are flights from DAL to HOU on time?
73% of 4,044 scheduled flights from Dallas, TX to Houston, TX arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.9% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly DAL to HOU?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (93% on time). The 10 p.m. departures were the least (50%).
What month has the most delays from DAL to HOU?
May (62% on time). The best month is February (84%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from DAL to HOU more likely to be cancelled?
Not much. Each airline's last DAL–HOU flight of the day was cancelled 2.2% of the time over the past year, against 1.9% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- HOU → DAL (return)
- Dallas Love Field (DAL) delays by hour
- Flights into Houston Hobby (HOU)
- 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.