Washington (DCA) to Charleston (CHS): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The biggest risk when flying DCA to CHS isn't a late arrival — it's not departing at all. 4.4% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled, several times the typical US rate. When flights do go, 72% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Republic Airways has been the safer pick, arriving on time 80% of the time.
- On-time
- 72%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 22 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 4.4%
- Flights/day
- 4.8
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 51m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 444 mi
Best airline from DCA to CHS
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 80% | 13 min | 3.6% | 918 |
| PSA Airlines | 71% | 23 min | 5.7% | 1,936 |
| American Airlines | 68% | 28 min | 2.5% | 919 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to CHS
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (82% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (59%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 70% | 24 min |
| Tuesday | 77% | 17 min |
| Wednesday | 73% | 21 min |
| Thursday | 70% | 24 min |
| Friday | 67% | 26 min |
| Saturdaybest | 79% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 72% | 24 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft59%
- Airline operations22%
- National airspace system13%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to CHS delayed?
- 28% of DCA–CHS 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 22 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to CHS?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 80%, based on 918 flights. 3 airlines flew DCA–CHS frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to CHS?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (82% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (59%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DCA to CHS?
- The scheduled DCA–CHS flight time averages 1h 51m over 444 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 28% of the time.
- How often are DCA to CHS flights cancelled?
- 4.4% 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 CHS?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 58% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 31-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,798 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.