Washington (DCA) to Chattanooga (CHA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Washington (DCA) to Chattanooga (CHA) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 300 departures over the past year, roughly 6 a week — so treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. Of the flights that did operate, 63% arrived on time, noticeably below the national average of 78%. Cancellations are the bigger caveat: 5.7% of scheduled flights never departed.
- On-time
- 63%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 36 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 5.7%
- Flights/day
- 0.82
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 58m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 523 mi
Best airline from DCA to CHA
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envoy Airmost reliable | 66% | 37 min | 2.5% | 120 |
| PSA Airlines | 64% | 35 min | 6.5% | 460 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to CHA
Aim for departures around 9 p.m. (70% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (62%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Mondaybest | 68% | 35 min |
| Tuesday | 65% | 33 min |
| Wednesday | 67% | 36 min |
| Thursday | 55% | 44 min |
| Friday | 60% | 34 min |
| Sunday | 63% | 35 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft55%
- Airline operations29%
- National airspace system10%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to CHA delayed?
- 37% of DCA–CHA 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 36 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to CHA?
- Envoy Air has the best on-time record on this route at 66%, based on 120 flights. 2 airlines flew DCA–CHA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to CHA?
- Departures around 9 p.m. have the best record (70% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (62%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DCA to CHA?
- The scheduled DCA–CHA flight time averages 1h 58m over 523 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 37% of the time.
- How often are DCA to CHA flights cancelled?
- 5.7% 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 CHA?
- February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 22% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2025 at 96%. If your dates are flexible, that 74-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 595 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.