Birmingham (BHM) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Birmingham (BHM) to Washington (DCA) has an unusually high scrub rate — 4.5% of scheduled departures never left the gate, a cancellation rate several times the national figure. When flights do go, 76% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Republic Airways has been the safer pick, arriving on time 85% of the time.
- On-time
- 76%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 26 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 4.5%
- Flights/day
- 2.9
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 7m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 653 mi
Best airline from BHM to DCA
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 85% | 11 min | 2.4% | 167 |
| PSA Airlines | 75% | 27 min | 4.6% | 1,855 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from BHM to DCA
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (62%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 75% | 37 min |
| Tuesday | 78% | 21 min |
| Wednesday | 76% | 21 min |
| Thursday | 72% | 29 min |
| Friday | 71% | 24 min |
| Saturdaybest | 85% | 22 min |
| Sunday | 78% | 25 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft40%
- Airline operations36%
- National airspace system12%
- Weather12%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from BHM to DCA delayed?
- 24% of BHM–DCA flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 26 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from BHM to DCA?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 85%, based on 167 flights. 2 airlines flew BHM–DCA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from BHM to DCA?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (90% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (62%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from BHM to DCA?
- The scheduled BHM–DCA flight time averages 2h 7m over 653 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 24% of the time.
- How often are BHM to DCA flights cancelled?
- 4.5% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05 — several times the typical US rate, so consider earlier departures or backup options.
- What is the worst month to fly from BHM to DCA?
- February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 55% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 34-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,022 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.