Washington (DCA) to Dayton (DAY): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Washington (DCA) to Dayton (DAY) has an unusually high scrub rate — 4% of scheduled departures never left the gate, a cancellation rate several times the national figure. When flights do go, 68% land on time, below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 68%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 28 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 4.0%
- Flights/day
- 2.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 39m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 391 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to DAY
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (86% on-time); avoid 3 p.m. departures (52%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 72% | 26 min |
| Tuesday | 73% | 24 min |
| Wednesday | 65% | 32 min |
| Thursday | 63% | 27 min |
| Friday | 65% | 32 min |
| Saturdaybest | 74% | 24 min |
| Sunday | 62% | 33 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 system10%
- Weather8%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to DAY delayed?
- 33% of DCA–DAY 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 28 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to DAY?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (86% on-time), while departures around 3 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 DAY?
- The scheduled DCA–DAY flight time averages 1h 39m over 391 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 33% of the time.
- How often are DCA to DAY flights cancelled?
- 4% 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 DAY?
- February 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 51% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 39-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,190 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.