81% of flights from Phoenix to Houston arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is about the typical U.S. route. The 11 a.m. departures ran on time 94% of the time; the 6 p.m. ones 68%. Most reliable airline: United Airlines (85%). 7% 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 PHX → IAH: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 56% of the time. About 1 in 16 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 73 three hours or more; 0.8% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early81%
- 15–30 min late6.9%
- 30–60 min late5.0%
- 1–2 hours late3.5%
- 2–3 hours late1.3%
- 3+ hours late1.4%
- Diverted0.5%
- Cancelled0.8%
Share of all 2,977 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 1,773 | 85% | 0.4% | −5 min | 4.8% | +82 min | United Airlines 100%, SkyWest 0% |
| American Airlines | 898 | 73% | 1.6% | −3 min | 8.8% | +68 min | American Airlines 70%, SkyWest 20%, Envoy 9% |
| Frontier Airlines | 306 | 80% | 0.7% | −6 min | 5.9% | +59 min | Frontier 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 PHX). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | United Airlines | American Airlines | Frontier Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 92% | — | — |
| 7 a.m. | 94% | — | — |
| 8 a.m. | 77% | 77% | — |
| 9 a.m. | 88% | 77% | 86% |
| 10 a.m. | 85% | — | — |
| 11 a.m. | 94% | — | — |
| noon | 79% | — | — |
| 1 p.m. | 89% | 71% | — |
| 3 p.m. | 84% | — | — |
| 4 p.m. | 77% | — | — |
| 6 p.m. | — | 61% | — |
Last flight of the day
On PHX → IAH, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 1.3% of the time, against 0.6% for its earlier flights (2.0× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 0.8% of the time (earlier flights: 1.7%). 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 | 4:90 p.m. | 2.0% | 0.9% | 1.3% | first flight 8:54 a.m. |
| United Airlines | 4:14 p.m. | 0.5% | 0.8% | 0.4% | first flight 6:10 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.
If you need to be in IAH tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: February (87%). Worst: July (68%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 470 | 79% | 1.3% |
| Tuesday | 359 | 83% | 0.3% |
| Wednesday | 380 | 84% | 1.3% |
| Thursday | 456 | 84% | 0.2% |
| Friday | 458 | 76% | 0.9% |
| Saturday | 394 | 83% | 0.5% |
| Sunday | 460 | 77% | 0.9% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 12 · airline 6 · air traffic/airport 5
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA 1318 | 6:10 a.m. | 233 | 91% | 0.9% | −6 min | United Airlines |
| F9 4184 | 9:04 a.m. | 181 | 78% | 0.5% | −6 min | Frontier Airlines |
| UA 1373 | 12:20 p.m. | 158 | 78% | 0.0% | −4 min | United Airlines |
| UA 1885 | 6:47 p.m. | 165 | 78% | 0.6% | −4 min | United Airlines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 16, 2026 | 10 | 0% | 3 |
| May 1, 2026 | 9 | 11% | 0 |
| Jun 20, 2026 | 6 | 17% | 0 |
| Mar 11, 2026 | 10 | 20% | 2 |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 9 | 22% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Phoenix or Houston. None has been clearly more reliable than PHX → IAH.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHX → IAH (this route) | 2,977 | 81% | 0.8% |
| PHX → HOU Phoenix Sky Harbor to Houston Hobby | 2,124 | 71% | 0.5% |
Questions
How often are flights from PHX to IAH on time?
81% of 2,977 scheduled flights from Phoenix, AZ to Houston, TX arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 0.8% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly PHX to IAH?
Flights scheduled to leave at 11 a.m. were the most reliable (94% on time). The 6 p.m. departures were the least (68%).
Which airline is most on time from PHX to IAH?
United Airlines: 85% of its 1,773 flights on the route arrived on time. American Airlines: 73%. Frontier Airlines: 80%.
What month has the most delays from PHX to IAH?
July (68% on time). The best month is February (87%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from PHX to IAH more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last PHX–IAH flight of the day was cancelled 1.3% of the time over the past year, against 0.6% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- IAH → PHX (return)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) delays by hour
- Flights into Houston Bush Intercontinental (IAH)
- United Airlines on-time record
- American Airlines on-time record
- Frontier 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.