Dayton (DAY) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Delays are only half the story on DAY–DCA: 4.1% 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, 74% land on time, below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 74%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 28 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 4.1%
- Flights/day
- 2.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 33m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 391 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DAY to DCA
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (88% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (33%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 74% | 30 min |
| Tuesday | 75% | 20 min |
| Wednesday | 72% | 35 min |
| Thursday | 73% | 23 min |
| Friday | 69% | 33 min |
| Saturdaybest | 85% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 71% | 38 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft48%
- Airline operations22%
- National airspace system23%
- Weather7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DAY to DCA delayed?
- 27% of DAY–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 28 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DAY to DCA?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (88% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (33%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DAY to DCA?
- The scheduled DAY–DCA flight time averages 1h 33m over 391 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 27% of the time.
- How often are DAY to DCA flights cancelled?
- 4.1% 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 DAY to DCA?
- February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 54% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 92%. If your dates are flexible, that 38-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
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Based on 2,121 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.