Washington (DCA) to Charlotte (CLT): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Washington (DCA) to Charlotte (CLT) effectively runs on two schedules. In April 2026, 87% of arrivals were on time; in July 2024 that fell to 64% — a 23-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 78% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (85% vs 66%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 78%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 22 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.6%
- Flights/day
- 7.4
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 39m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 331 mi
Best airline from DCA to CLT
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlinesmost reliable | 79% | 22 min | 2.7% | 5,025 |
| PSA Airlines | 73% | 23 min | 2.1% | 1,016 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to CLT
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (91% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (64%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 79% | 23 min |
| Tuesday | 81% | 19 min |
| Wednesday | 78% | 24 min |
| Thursday | 75% | 23 min |
| Friday | 74% | 27 min |
| Saturdaybest | 82% | 18 min |
| Sunday | 76% | 23 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 operations27%
- National airspace system12%
- Weather5%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to CLT delayed?
- 22% of DCA–CLT 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 22 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to CLT?
- American Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 79%, based on 5,025 flights. 2 airlines flew DCA–CLT frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to CLT?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (91% on-time), while departures around 7 p.m. have the worst (64%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DCA to CLT?
- The scheduled DCA–CLT flight time averages 1h 39m over 331 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are DCA to CLT flights cancelled?
- 2.6% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from DCA to CLT?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 64% of arrivals on time. The best was April 2026 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 23-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 6,041 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.