Washington (DCA) to Wilmington (ILM): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The biggest risk when flying DCA to ILM isn't a late arrival — it's not departing at all. 6% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled, several times the typical US rate. When flights do go, 73% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Republic Airways has been the safer pick, arriving on time 89% of the time.
- On-time
- 73%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 20 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 6.0%
- Flights/day
- 2.4
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 31m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 320 mi
Best airline from DCA to ILM
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 89% | 7 min | 2.1% | 190 |
| PSA Airlines | 70% | 22 min | 6.6% | 1,495 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to ILM
Aim for departures around 11 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (39%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 72% | 23 min |
| Tuesday | 75% | 17 min |
| Wednesday | 72% | 22 min |
| Thursday | 71% | 21 min |
| Friday | 74% | 17 min |
| Saturdaybest | 78% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 69% | 24 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft60%
- Airline operations20%
- National airspace system15%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to ILM delayed?
- 27% of DCA–ILM 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.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to ILM?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 89%, based on 190 flights. 2 airlines flew DCA–ILM frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to ILM?
- Departures around 11 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (39%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DCA to ILM?
- The scheduled DCA–ILM flight time averages 1h 31m over 320 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 27% of the time.
- How often are DCA to ILM flights cancelled?
- 6% 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 ILM?
- February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 52% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 92%. If your dates are flexible, that 40-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,730 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.