Washington (DCA) to Birmingham (BHM): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Delays are only half the story on DCA–BHM: 4.5% 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%.
- On-time
- 71%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 25 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 4.5%
- Flights/day
- 2.9
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 15m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 653 mi
Best airline from DCA to BHM
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 73% | 17 min | 7.7% | 168 |
| PSA Airlines | 71% | 26 min | 4.3% | 1,857 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to BHM
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (83% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (58%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 66% | 34 min |
| Tuesday | 75% | 20 min |
| Wednesday | 76% | 18 min |
| Thursday | 71% | 27 min |
| Friday | 71% | 25 min |
| Saturdaybest | 78% | 19 min |
| Sunday | 66% | 36 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 operations25%
- National airspace system12%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to BHM delayed?
- 29% of DCA–BHM 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 25 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to BHM?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 73%, based on 168 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 9 p.m. have the worst (58%). 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 15m over 653 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 29% of the time.
- How often are DCA to BHM flights cancelled?
- 4.5% 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 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.
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Based on 2,026 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.