Washington (DCA) to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The biggest risk when flying DCA to DFW 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%.
- On-time
- 79%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 20 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.1%
- Flights/day
- 9.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 35m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,192 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to DFW
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (91% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (56%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 79% | 19 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 80% | 19 min |
| Wednesday | 78% | 20 min |
| Thursday | 79% | 20 min |
| Friday | 78% | 22 min |
| Saturday | 80% | 19 min |
| Sunday | 76% | 21 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft44%
- Airline operations30%
- National airspace system20%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to DFW delayed?
- 21% of DCA–DFW 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 20 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to DFW?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (91% on-time), while departures around 7 p.m. have the worst (56%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DCA to DFW?
- The scheduled DCA–DFW flight time averages 3h 35m over 1,192 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 21% of the time.
- How often are DCA to DFW flights cancelled?
- 3.1% 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 DFW?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 68% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 22-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from DCA
Other ways to fly to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)
Related guides
Based on 7,100 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.