Washington (DCA) to Asheville (AVL): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Delays are only half the story on DCA–AVL: 4.6% 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, 72% land on time, below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 72%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 4.6%
- Flights/day
- 1.4
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 38m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 384 mi
Best airline from DCA to AVL
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 72% | 20 min | 5.3% | 94 |
| PSA Airlines | 72% | 19 min | 4.7% | 992 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to AVL
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (85% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (54%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 69% | 24 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 78% | 16 min |
| Wednesday | 76% | 16 min |
| Thursday | 66% | 26 min |
| Friday | 67% | 21 min |
| Saturday | 74% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 76% | 14 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft53%
- Airline operations23%
- National airspace system19%
- Weather4%
- Security1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to AVL delayed?
- 28% of DCA–AVL 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 19 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to AVL?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 72%, based on 94 flights. 2 airlines flew DCA–AVL frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to AVL?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (85% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (54%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DCA to AVL?
- The scheduled DCA–AVL flight time averages 1h 38m over 384 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 28% of the time.
- How often are DCA to AVL flights cancelled?
- 4.6% 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 DCA to AVL?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 47% of arrivals on time. The best was April 2025 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 46-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,128 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.