Columbia (CAE) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Delays are only half the story on CAE–DCA: 5.8% of its scheduled flights were outright cancelled, well above the US norm, so a backup plan matters more here than on most routes. When flights do go, 71% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Republic Airways has been the safer pick, arriving on time 83% of the time.
- On-time
- 71%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 26 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 5.8%
- Flights/day
- 3.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 36m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 408 mi
Best airline from CAE to DCA
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 83% | 10 min | 2.6% | 154 |
| PSA Airlines | 69% | 28 min | 6.2% | 1,940 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from CAE to DCA
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (86% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (47%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 69% | 21 min |
| Tuesday | 70% | 26 min |
| Wednesday | 74% | 18 min |
| Thursday | 70% | 31 min |
| Friday | 62% | 32 min |
| Saturdaybest | 82% | 24 min |
| Sunday | 71% | 28 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft46%
- Airline operations33%
- National airspace system17%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from CAE to DCA delayed?
- 29% of CAE–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 CAE to DCA?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 83%, based on 154 flights. 2 airlines flew CAE–DCA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from CAE to DCA?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (86% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (47%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from CAE to DCA?
- The scheduled CAE–DCA flight time averages 1h 36m over 408 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 29% of the time.
- How often are CAE to DCA flights cancelled?
- 5.8% 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 CAE to DCA?
- February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 51% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 86%. If your dates are flexible, that 36-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,138 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.