Millions of Americans are squeezing in one last summer trip over Labor Day weekend, and airports across the country are preparing for packed terminals. Dallas, Texas, is no exception.
The city’s major airports, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL), are bracing for a busy holiday period that could see even more passenger traffic than last year. At DFW alone, officials are expecting hundreds of thousands of customers to pass through over the course of three days.
That surge comes as new data reveals how major U.S. airports have performed during previous Labor Day travel periods. And when it comes to keeping flights moving on time, Dallas-area airports top the list for those at risk of delays.
Dallas Love Field And DFW Rank Among The Most Delay-Prone Labor Day Airports
According to an analysis by Rightway Parking, Dallas Love Field had the highest percentage of delayed Labor Day departures out of the 45 major U.S. airports included.
Rightway analyzed U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on-time performance data from the Labor Day travel periods between 2020 and 2025. During that time period, 20.7% of departures from Dallas Love Field were delayed. Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL) came in second at 19.4%, while DFW ranked third at 19%.
Airports With The Most Labor Day Delays Between 2020 And 2025
|
Airport |
Percent of Flights Delayed |
|---|---|
|
Dallas Love Field |
20.7% |
|
Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International |
19.4% |
|
Dallas/Fort Worth International |
19.0% |
|
William P. Hobby |
18.9% |
|
Harry Reid International |
18.9% |
|
Orlando International |
18.8% |
|
Logan International |
18.8% |
|
Miami International |
18.2% |
|
Oakland International |
18.2% |
|
Tampa International |
18.0% |
DFW, among the U.S. mega-hubs most likely to wreck your holiday travel plans, had an especially rough Labor Day in 2025. Of its 6,883 departures during the holiday period, 25.5% were delayed, making it the worst-performing major airport in the study that year. Another 7.16% were canceled.
Rightway Parking also found that, of the nine airlines studied, JetBlue, Frontier Airlines, and American Airlines were the three worst airlines for Labor Day travel, with 23.1%, 20.5%, and 20.1% of departures delayed, respectively. Hawaiian Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Alaska Airlines were the best.
By comparison, Atlanta had the best performance, with 9.5% of departures delayed and just 0.14% canceled.
DFW Is Expecting 1.4 Million Travelers Over Labor Day Weekend
While the Rightway Parking study doesn’t guarantee extensive delays for all travelers, what is certain is that DFW will have plenty of travelers passing through its terminals this weekend.
The airport expects about 1.4 million customers between Thursday, September 3, and Tuesday, September 8. That’s 7.2% more than during last year’s Labor Day travel period.
On an average day, 225,000 travelers move through DFW. However, Monday, September 7, is expected to be the airport’s busiest day, with 256,848 travelers.
Dallas Love Field Airport Won’t See As Much Traffic
Dallas Love Field, commonly used as an alternative to the busier DFW, is expecting a smaller holiday crowd. According to WFAA, the airport estimates that about 190,000 travelers will arrive, depart, or connect through Love Field during the same period.
That figure is actually lower than last Labor Day, when Love Field recorded about 210,000 travelers. Even so, with hundreds of thousands of passengers moving through the Dallas area this weekend, travelers may want to build some extra time into their airport plans.
How Dallas Travelers Can Prepare For Labor Day Crowds
With DFW expecting heavy traffic this weekend, the airport is recommending that travelers arrive well before their plane is set to depart.
Its website states:
“DFW recommends arriving at least two hours before domestic departures and three hours before international departures, with additional time allowed for roadway traffic, parking, and security screening.”
Before leaving home, travelers can also check the DFW website or mobile app for:
- Live parking availability
- Real-time security checkpoint wait times
- Terminal alerts
- Traffic updates
- Interactive maps
DFW also says travelers should consider public transportation to avoid some of the roadway congestion. DART, TEXRail, and Trinity Railway Express connections all provide access to the airport.
Dallas Love Field has issued more general guidance for passengers. The airport recommends arriving at least 90 minutes before departure on a normal travel day. But if you have concerns about flight disruptions, it could be helpful to arrive even earlier.
Those picking up someone from Dallas Love Field can also use the airport’s cell phone waiting lot. Drivers can use this lot at no cost to wait in their vehicles while their loved ones deplane and wait for baggage. It is worth noting, though, that there’s a 60-minute time limit.
While it’s not set in stone how many delays or cancellations travelers will experience, or whether airport traveler numbers will exceed projections, being prepared can go a long way toward making your trip as smooth as possible.
For Dallas travelers, that may mean leaving earlier, checking conditions before heading out, or simply having a little extra patience.
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