70% of flights from Chicago to Dallas arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. 13% 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 ORD → DAL: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 54% of the time. About 1 in 10 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 31 three hours or more; 1.3% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early70%
- 15–30 min late9.9%
- 30–60 min late7.2%
- 1–2 hours late5.1%
- 2–3 hours late1.9%
- 3+ hours late3.2%
- Diverted1.1%
- Cancelled1.3%
Share of all 375 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 | 375 | 70% | 1.3% | −3 min | 10.1% | +80 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 ORD). 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 (88%). Worst: July (65%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 58 | — | — |
| Tuesday | 53 | — | — |
| Wednesday | 53 | — | — |
| Thursday | 56 | — | — |
| Friday | 56 | — | — |
| Saturday | 44 | — | — |
| Sunday | 55 | — | — |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 3 · airline 1 · air traffic/airport 1
Month by month
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26, 2025 | 3 | 33% | 0 |
| Sep 18, 2025 | 3 | 33% | 0 |
| Sep 19, 2025 | 3 | 33% | 0 |
| Sep 15, 2025 | 3 | 67% | 0 |
| Sep 14, 2025 | 3 | 67% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Chicago or Dallas. MDW → DAL has been 4 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORD → DAL (this route) | 375 | 70% | 1.3% |
| MDW → DAL Chicago Midway to Dallas Love Field | 2,204 | 74% | 1.9% |
| ORD → DFW Chicago O'Hare to Dallas/Fort Worth | 7,111 | 68% | 2.7% |
Questions
How often are flights from ORD to DAL on time?
70% of 375 scheduled flights from Chicago, IL to Dallas, TX arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.3% were cancelled.
What month has the most delays from ORD to DAL?
July (65% on time). The best month is February (88%), over 2023–2026.
Related
- DAL → ORD (return)
- Chicago O'Hare (ORD) delays by hour
- Flights into Dallas Love Field (DAL)
- 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.