American vs Southwest: On-Time Performance Compared

Last 12 months · Aug 2025 – Jul 2026

Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026

Southwest was more punctual than American over the last 12 months: 76.4% of its flights arrived on time, against 74.6%.

Southwest cancelled fewer flights (0.9% vs 2.2%), and late flights averaged 85 minutes late on American vs 53 on Southwest.

On the 158 routes both airlines fly regularly, American had the better on-time record on 109 and Southwest on 49.

American vs Southwest: key numbers

Last 12 months, all flights each airline operated.

AmericanSouthwest

On-time arrivals74.6%76.4%

On-time departures73.6%71.8%

Cancelled2.2%0.9%

Diverted0.4%0.2%

On-time arrival % each month, last 24 months.

AmericanSouthwest

60%70%80%90%

Aug ’24Nov ’24Feb ’25May ’25Aug ’25Nov ’25Feb ’26May ’26

Share of each airline’s reported delay minutes by cause, last 12 months.

AmericanSouthwest

Airline (carrier)33.7%28.4%

Weather5.6%2.3%

Air traffic system (NAS)13.6%17.9%

Security0.1%0.3%

Late-arriving aircraft46.9%51.1%

158 routes where each airline had at least 100 completed flights in the last 12 months; the 25 busiest are shown. Better on-time rate in bold.

Route	American on time	Southwest on time	American flights	Southwest flights
PHX → LAS	78.4%	77.3%	1,688	3,451
LAS → PHX	79.8%	76.6%	1,689	3,449
DEN → PHX	75.7%	72.3%	985	3,964
PHX → DEN	75.4%	72.7%	987	3,937
PHX → SAN	73.3%	70.3%	1,668	3,219
SAN → PHX	80.0%	73.2%	1,667	3,197
PHX → SNA	78.5%	78.5%	1,923	2,430
SNA → PHX	80.9%	83.2%	1,923	2,428
LAX → PHX	78.5%	74.0%	2,048	2,007
PHX → LAX	81.0%	71.2%	2,049	1,983
MCO → MIA	75.2%	68.2%	2,983	610
MIA → MCO	69.5%	86.0%	2,985	608
PHX → ORD	78.5%	60.7%	2,997	428
ORD → PHX	71.0%	60.0%	2,994	429
LAS → LAX	74.5%	68.9%	1,020	2,382
LAX → LAS	69.3%	71.2%	1,024	2,377
MCO → PHL	75.7%	67.8%	2,601	642
PHL → MCO	74.0%	71.0%	2,601	640
AUS → PHX	81.7%	77.3%	1,197	1,994
PHX → AUS	74.1%	74.1%	1,198	1,957
SMF → PHX	87.0%	78.9%	1,020	2,135
PHX → SMF	81.8%	79.1%	1,022	2,125
CLT → BNA	75.0%	73.5%	2,210	746
BNA → CLT	80.1%	74.2%	2,209	746
ONT → PHX	83.9%	80.9%	1,311	1,610