Washington (DCA) to Columbia (CAE): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The biggest risk when flying DCA to CAE isn't a late arrival — it's not departing at all. 6.3% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled, several times the typical US rate. When flights do go, 67% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Republic Airways has been the safer pick, arriving on time 82% of the time.
- On-time
- 67%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 25 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 6.3%
- Flights/day
- 3.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 41m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 408 mi
Best airline from DCA to CAE
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 82% | 12 min | 4.9% | 162 |
| Envoy Air | 72% | 12 min | 4.8% | 63 |
| PSA Airlines | 65% | 26 min | 6.4% | 2,003 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to CAE
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (47%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 64% | 23 min |
| Tuesday | 68% | 23 min |
| Wednesday | 68% | 26 min |
| Thursday | 66% | 28 min |
| Friday | 65% | 26 min |
| Saturdaybest | 75% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 64% | 27 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft57%
- Airline operations23%
- National airspace system12%
- Weather8%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to CAE delayed?
- 33% of DCA–CAE 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 25 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to CAE?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 82%, based on 162 flights. 3 airlines flew DCA–CAE frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to CAE?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 9 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 DCA to CAE?
- The scheduled DCA–CAE flight time averages 1h 41m over 408 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 33% of the time.
- How often are DCA to CAE flights cancelled?
- 6.3% 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 CAE?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 40% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 88%. If your dates are flexible, that 48-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,228 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.