Washington (DCA) to Wilmington (ILM): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The biggest risk when flying DCA to ILM isn't a late arrival — it's not departing at all. 5.5% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled, several times the typical US rate. When flights do go, 74% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Republic Airways has been the safer pick, arriving on time 90% of the time.
- On-time
- 74%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 5.5%
- 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 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 90% | 6 min | 2.0% | 201 |
| PSA Airlines | 71% | 22 min | 6.1% | 1,370 |
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 | 73% | 22 min |
| Tuesday | 74% | 18 min |
| Wednesday | 73% | 22 min |
| Thursday | 71% | 20 min |
| Friday | 74% | 16 min |
| Saturdaybest | 78% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 71% | 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 aircraft61%
- Airline operations19%
- National airspace system14%
- Weather7%
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 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 19 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to ILM?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 90%, based on 201 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?
- 5.5% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05 — 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 1,620 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.