Travel turbulence

DFW Airport logs one of worst records for flight delays and cancellations in U.S., report says

Holiday travelers could be in for a turbulent time.

Photo courtesy of Ibarra Engineers

If you’re planning to fly out of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport over the holidays, buckle up. You could be in for a bumpy experience.

A new ranking from The Family Vacation Guide puts DFW at No. 3 among U.S. airports where you’re most likely to encounter flight delays or cancellations. The website’s review of federal data from July 2019 to July 2021 found 20.77 percent of flights at DFW were either delayed or canceled during the two-year period.

Only Newark Liberty International Airport (24.29 percent) and LaGuardia Airport (22.52 percent), both in the New York City area, fared worse in the ranking.

Elsewhere in Texas, San Antonio International Airport ranked ninth (19.03 percent) for flight delays and cancellations.

It's not all bad news for North Texas. Despite the recent flight debacles involving Fort Worth-based American Airlines and Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, the two carriers don’t land in the top five of The Family Vacation Guide’s ranking of the U.S. airlines with the most flight delays or cancellations.

Allegiant Air takes the top spot (27.31 percent), followed by JetBlue Airways (23.2 percent), Frontier Airlines (21.24 percent), Envoy Air (19.52 percent), and United Airlines (18.6 percent).

American ranks sixth (18.55 percent) and Southwest ranks eighth (16.97 percent).

Whether it’s airports or airlines, the flying public could feel increased turbulence over the holidays as air travel is expected to climb to pandemic-era highs. A recent survey by professional services firm PwC found 40 percent of Americans plan to travel by air during the holiday season.

“A spate of high-profile flight cancellations has put a spotlight on worker shortages at U.S. airlines, triggering warnings of new delays over the holiday period as airlines scramble for staff,” the Reuters news service reports in reference to the recent American and Southwest meltdowns.

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Airline News

Frontier Airlines adds two new destination cities out of DFW Airport

Frontier Airlines/ Facebook

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Low-cost Denver-based Frontier Airlines has launched nonstop service from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to two new destinations in Central America.

According to a release, the carrier will offer the following new flights:

Guatemala City, Guatemala (GUA) - weekly
San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL) - 2x/week

With these new routes, Frontier will serve 40 destinations nonstop from DFW, exemplifying Frontier’s impressive network growth as it continues to add more affordable and convenient travel options across the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America.

The frequency of the flights is a little confusing. Guatemala City is "weekly" which seems to imply "once a week." San Salvador is "2x/week" which seems to imply two flights a week. However, if you try to book a flight to either city, you get all sorts of options, including weekends and a few randomly spaced weekdays. And the flight availability extends only through January.

Frontier Airlines VP of network and operations design Josh Flyr says in a statement that "there’s a lot to be excited about" including their expanding network and their rolling out First Class in early 2026.

Other changes at Frontier include UpFront Plus seating, an upgraded seating option with extra leg and elbow room in the first two rows of the aircraft, with choice of a window or aisle seat with extra legroom and a guaranteed empty middle seat.

To celebrate, they'll offer a fare sale starting at $79. Tickets must be purchased by 10:59 pm Dallas time on December 30, 2025. Sale fares are valid for nonstop travel on select days of the week January 5-April 13, 2026. Blackout dates apply on March 9 and March 31, and from April 1-6. And a 14-day advance purchase is required.

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