Washington (DCA) to Columbus (CMH): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The biggest risk when flying DCA to CMH isn't a late arrival — it's not departing at all. 3.1% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled, several times the typical US rate. When flights do go, 79% land on time, no worse than the national average of 78%. Republic Airways has been the safer pick, arriving on time 84% of the time.
- On-time
- 79%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 16 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.1%
- Flights/day
- 5.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 31m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 323 mi
Best airline from DCA to CMH
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 84% | 12 min | 2.1% | 1,789 |
| Southwest Airlines | 83% | 11 min | 0.6% | 699 |
| Envoy Air | 75% | 22 min | 5.5% | 675 |
| PSA Airlines | 68% | 23 min | 5.3% | 852 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to CMH
Aim for departures around 10 a.m. (88% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (38%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 79% | 14 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 83% | 13 min |
| Wednesday | 78% | 18 min |
| Thursday | 76% | 17 min |
| Friday | 75% | 18 min |
| Saturday | 83% | 11 min |
| Sunday | 79% | 18 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft58%
- Airline operations19%
- National airspace system14%
- Weather8%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to CMH delayed?
- 21% of DCA–CMH 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 16 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to CMH?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 84%, based on 1,789 flights. 4 airlines flew DCA–CMH frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to CMH?
- Departures around 10 a.m. have the best record (88% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (38%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DCA to CMH?
- The scheduled DCA–CMH flight time averages 1h 31m over 323 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 21% of the time.
- How often are DCA to CMH flights cancelled?
- 3.1% 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 CMH?
- June 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 58% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 95%. If your dates are flexible, that 38-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,015 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.