Columbia (CAE) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Delays are only half the story on CAE–DCA: 6.1% 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, 70% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Envoy Air has been the safer pick, arriving on time 86% of the time.
- On-time
- 70%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 28 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 6.1%
- Flights/day
- 3.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 36m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 408 mi
Best airline from CAE to DCA
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envoy Airmost reliable | 86% | 8 min | 0.0% | 64 |
| Republic Airways | 84% | 10 min | 2.5% | 162 |
| PSA Airlines | 69% | 30 min | 6.6% | 2,005 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from CAE to DCA
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (47%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 70% | 25 min |
| Tuesday | 69% | 27 min |
| Wednesday | 74% | 19 min |
| Thursday | 70% | 28 min |
| Friday | 62% | 32 min |
| Saturdaybest | 79% | 35 min |
| Sunday | 70% | 32 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft45%
- Airline operations35%
- National airspace system15%
- Weather5%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from CAE to DCA delayed?
- 30% of CAE–DCA flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-07 and 2026-07. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 28 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from CAE to DCA?
- Envoy Air has the best on-time record on this route at 86%, based on 64 flights. 3 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 9 a.m. have the best record (90% on-time), while departures around 7 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 30% of the time.
- How often are CAE to DCA flights cancelled?
- 6.1% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07 — 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 2,231 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.