FlightRecord

Washington (DCA) to Cincinnati (CVG): On-Time Performance

Data through May 2026

Washington (DCA) to Cincinnati (CVG) has an unusually high scrub rate — 3.2% of scheduled departures never left the gate, a cancellation rate several times the national figure. When flights do go, 70% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Envoy Air has been the safer pick, arriving on time 91% of the time.

On-time
70%
arrived <15 min late
Avg delay
27 min
completed flights
Cancelled
3.2%
Flights/day
2.8
last 12 months
Duration
1h 45m
scheduled
Distance
411 mi

Best airline from DCA to CVG

4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.

AirlineOn-timeAvg delayCancelledFlights
Envoy Airmost reliable91%5 min0.0%127
Republic Airways90%5 min0.0%106
Endeavor Air80%20 min1.4%579
PSA Airlines63%33 min4.3%1,663

Monthly on-time trend

Monthly on-time percentage for DCA to CVG flights50%75%100%June 2024: 78% on-time (148 flights)78Jun 2024July 2024: 62% on-time (151 flights)62August 2024: 74% on-time (150 flights)74September 2024: 86% on-time (145 flights)86Sep 2024October 2024: 89% on-time (169 flights)89November 2024: 84% on-time (158 flights)84December 2024: 74% on-time (141 flights)74Dec 2024January 2025: 53% on-time (82 flights)53February 2025: 38% on-time (76 flights)38March 2025: 65% on-time (65 flights)65Mar 2025April 2025: 63% on-time (83 flights)63May 2025: 65% on-time (88 flights)65June 2025: 51% on-time (86 flights)51Jun 2025July 2025: 54% on-time (88 flights)54August 2025: 74% on-time (84 flights)74September 2025: 76% on-time (82 flights)76Sep 2025October 2025: 74% on-time (84 flights)74November 2025: 54% on-time (83 flights)54December 2025: 54% on-time (87 flights)54Dec 2025January 2026: 68% on-time (88 flights)68February 2026: 59% on-time (80 flights)59March 2026: 58% on-time (90 flights)58Mar 2026April 2026: 72% on-time (83 flights)72May 2026: 81% on-time (85 flights)81

Best time to fly from DCA to CVG

Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (87% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (49%).

On-time percentage by scheduled departure hour, DCA to CVG7 a.m.: 81% on-time (21 flights)78 a.m.: 87% on-time (148 flights)89 a.m.: 69% on-time (198 flights)910 a.m.: 85% on-time (464 flights)1011 a.m.: 64% on-time (42 flights)113 p.m.: 66% on-time (134 flights)154 p.m.: 74% on-time (434 flights)165 p.m.: 49% on-time (161 flights)177 p.m.: 55% on-time (477 flights)198 p.m.: 66% on-time (348 flights)20scheduled departure hour

By day of week

DayOn-timeAvg delay
Monday71%28 min
Tuesday71%24 min
Wednesday68%28 min
Thursday66%30 min
Friday66%28 min
Saturdaybest78%25 min
Sunday71%28 min

What causes delays on this route

Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.

  • Late-arriving aircraft53%
  • Airline operations23%
  • National airspace system17%
  • Weather7%

Frequently asked questions

How often are flights from DCA to CVG delayed?
30% of DCA–CVG 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 27 minutes.
Which airline is most reliable from DCA to CVG?
Envoy Air has the best on-time record on this route at 91%, based on 127 flights. 4 airlines flew DCA–CVG frequently enough to compare in this period.
What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to CVG?
Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (87% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (49%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
How long is the flight from DCA to CVG?
The scheduled DCA–CVG flight time averages 1h 45m over 411 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 30% of the time.
How often are DCA to CVG flights cancelled?
3.2% 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 CVG?
February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 38% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 51-point gap is worth planning around.

Based on 2,476 flights, 2024-062026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.