Flight time: Panama City to Dallas
Tocumen International Airport (PTY) → Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) · medium haul · north america south america
The flight from Panama City (PTY) to Dallas (DFW) takes approximately 4h 17m to 4h 57m gate-to-gate, covering 3,210 km (1,995 mi). This medium-haul north america south america route uses a cruise speed of 780–850 km/h with 30–50 minutes of ground and air overhead.
- Route:
- Panama City (PTY) → Dallas (DFW)
- Distance:
- 3,210 km (1,995 mi)
- Flight time:
- 4h 17m to 4h 57m gate-to-gate
- Route type:
- medium-haul, north america south america
- Cruise speed:
- 780–850 km/h
- Ground overhead:
- 30–50 minutes included
- Over water:
- No — continental
- Origin:
- Tocumen International Airport, Panama (America/Panama)
- Destination:
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, United States (America/Chicago)
Route details
| Origin | Panama City, Panama (PTY) |
| Destination | Dallas, United States (DFW) |
| Distance | 3,210 km (1,995 mi) |
| Flight time (low) | 4h 17m |
| Flight time (high) | 4h 57m |
| Route type | medium-haul, north america south america |
| Cruise speed | 780–850 km/h |
| Ground overhead | 30–50 minutes |
| Over water | No — continental routing |
| Time difference | -1h (westbound) |
Distance breakdown: Panama City to Dallas
The 3,210-km great-circle distance between Panama City (9.07°N, 79.38°W) and Dallas (32.90°N, 97.04°W) spans 23.8° of latitude and 17.7° of longitude, trending primarily west. In miles, this is 1,995 mi or 1733 nautical miles. The great-circle path — the shortest distance over Earth's curved surface — is calculated using the Haversine formula from the two airports' precise coordinates.
Cruise speed and flight phases
At 3,210 km, this medium-haul route falls in the operational sweet spot where aircraft reach cruise altitude for a meaningful portion of the flight. Effective cruise speeds of 780–850 km/h are typical, with narrow-body aircraft (A320neo, 737 MAX) handling the lower end and wide-body aircraft achieving speeds at the upper end. The 4h 17m to 4h 57m estimate accounts for approximately 20 minutes of combined climb and descent, with the remainder at efficient cruise altitude.
Ground time and routing overhead
Our 30–50 minutes overhead allowance covers: taxi-out at PTY, takeoff and initial climb, descent and approach at DFW, and taxi-in to the gate. Taxi times at PTY are typically 5–15 minutes depending on traffic. At DFW, arrival taxi and gate assignment can add 10–20 minutes, especially during busy arrival banks. Continental air traffic corridors between Panama City and Dallas may add 3–8% beyond the great-circle distance. Standard instrument departures and arrivals at both airports use predefined routing that adds distance but ensures safe separation.
Return flight: Dallas → Panama City
The return flight from Dallas to Panama City is generally similar in duration to the outbound — typically within 10–20 minutes. Continental routes like this one are less affected by the jet stream asymmetry that makes oceanic east-west routes so uneven. The main variables affecting any difference are: prevailing winds at these latitudes (modest effect), different standard instrument departures/arrivals at each airport (minor effect), and air traffic congestion patterns that vary by time of day and direction.
Seasonal variation in flight times
Flight times between Panama City and Dallas vary modestly by season — typically 10–20 minutes. Upper-level wind patterns shift with the seasons: winter generally brings stronger westerly winds at these latitudes, while summer patterns are more variable. Thunderstorm activity along the route corridor peaks in summer months, occasionally causing routing diversions that add distance. Winter operations may include de-icing delays at PTY, which extend the overall gate-to-gate time.
Airport information
Tocumen International Airport (PTY) serves Panama City, Panama as a significant international airport. Flight frequency is good on major routes, with moderate taxi times. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is a major international hub in Dallas, United States. As a tier-1 airport, it handles high traffic volumes, which means longer average taxi times but also higher flight frequency and competition that can benefit travelers on pricing.