Washington (DCA) to Houston (IAH): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The calendar drives reliability on DCA–IAH. October 2024 flights landed on schedule 91% of the time, but July 2024 dropped to 62% — a gap of 29 points. Across the full period the route averages 81% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (90% vs 73%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 81%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 17 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.2%
- Flights/day
- 9.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 30m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,208 mi
Best airline from DCA to IAH
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 82% | 16 min | 1.6% | 4,828 |
| Republic Airways | 76% | 15 min | 5.1% | 511 |
| PSA Airlines | 65% | 27 min | 6.1% | 360 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to IAH
Aim for departures around 11 a.m. (91% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (62%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 80% | 18 min |
| Tuesday | 84% | 15 min |
| Wednesday | 81% | 15 min |
| Thursday | 79% | 18 min |
| Friday | 79% | 22 min |
| Saturdaybest | 87% | 12 min |
| Sunday | 79% | 17 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft41%
- Airline operations27%
- National airspace system26%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to IAH delayed?
- 19% of DCA–IAH 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 17 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to IAH?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 82%, based on 4,828 flights. 3 airlines flew DCA–IAH frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to IAH?
- Departures around 11 a.m. have the best record (91% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (62%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DCA to IAH?
- The scheduled DCA–IAH flight time averages 3h 30m over 1,208 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 19% of the time.
- How often are DCA to IAH flights cancelled?
- 2.2% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from DCA to IAH?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 62% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 91%. If your dates are flexible, that 29-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 5,699 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.