Washington (DCA) to Dallas (DAL): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Washington (DCA) to Dallas (DAL) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 88% of arrivals were on time; in May 2025 that fell to 59% — a 29-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 75% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (87% vs 62%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 75%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 17 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.8%
- Flights/day
- 4.8
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 20m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,184 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to DAL
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (91% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (50%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 75% | 19 min |
| Tuesday | 78% | 14 min |
| Wednesday | 76% | 15 min |
| Thursday | 76% | 16 min |
| Friday | 71% | 19 min |
| Saturdaybest | 82% | 16 min |
| Sunday | 68% | 19 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft52%
- Airline operations26%
- National airspace system17%
- Weather5%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to DAL delayed?
- 25% of DCA–DAL 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 17 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to DAL?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (91% on-time), while departures around 7 p.m. have the worst (50%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DCA to DAL?
- The scheduled DCA–DAL flight time averages 3h 20m over 1,184 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 25% of the time.
- How often are DCA to DAL flights cancelled?
- 1.8% 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 DAL?
- May 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 59% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 88%. If your dates are flexible, that 29-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,443 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.