Washington (DCA) to Birmingham (BHM): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Delays are only half the story on DCA–BHM: 5.1% 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%.
- On-time
- 70%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 26 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 5.1%
- Flights/day
- 2.9
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 16m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 653 mi
Best airline from DCA to BHM
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 72% | 18 min | 7.9% | 164 |
| PSA Airlines | 70% | 27 min | 4.9% | 1,954 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to BHM
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (83% on-time); avoid 10 p.m. departures (54%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 66% | 32 min |
| Tuesday | 73% | 21 min |
| Wednesday | 74% | 19 min |
| Thursday | 69% | 29 min |
| Friday | 70% | 26 min |
| Saturdaybest | 77% | 19 min |
| Sunday | 65% | 37 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft58%
- Airline operations26%
- National airspace system12%
- Weather5%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to BHM delayed?
- 30% of DCA–BHM 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 26 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to BHM?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 72%, based on 164 flights. 2 airlines flew DCA–BHM frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to BHM?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (83% on-time), while departures around 10 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 BHM?
- The scheduled DCA–BHM flight time averages 2h 16m over 653 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 30% of the time.
- How often are DCA to BHM flights cancelled?
- 5.1% 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 DCA to BHM?
- February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 48% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 39-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from DCA
Other ways to fly to Birmingham (BHM)
Related guides
Based on 2,119 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.