Washington (DCA) to Cleveland (CLE): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The biggest risk when flying DCA to CLE isn't a late arrival — it's not departing at all. 6.8% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled, several times the typical US rate. When flights do go, 70% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Envoy Air has been the safer pick, arriving on time 88% of the time.
- On-time
- 70%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 24 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 6.8%
- Flights/day
- 4.4
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 31m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 310 mi
Best airline from DCA to CLE
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envoy Airmost reliable | 88% | 5 min | 1.9% | 154 |
| Republic Airways | 85% | 8 min | 2.2% | 270 |
| PSA Airlines | 67% | 27 min | 7.6% | 2,853 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to CLE
Aim for departures around 9 p.m. (93% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (52%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 70% | 20 min |
| Tuesday | 73% | 21 min |
| Wednesday | 72% | 24 min |
| Thursday | 69% | 25 min |
| Friday | 67% | 22 min |
| Saturdaybest | 77% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 62% | 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 aircraft54%
- Airline operations27%
- National airspace system14%
- Weather5%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to CLE delayed?
- 30% of DCA–CLE 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 24 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to CLE?
- Envoy Air has the best on-time record on this route at 88%, based on 154 flights. 3 airlines flew DCA–CLE frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to CLE?
- Departures around 9 p.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (52%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DCA to CLE?
- The scheduled DCA–CLE flight time averages 1h 31m over 310 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 30% of the time.
- How often are DCA to CLE flights cancelled?
- 6.8% 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 CLE?
- June 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 51% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 38-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,287 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.