Washington (DCA) to Indianapolis (IND): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The biggest risk when flying DCA to IND isn't a late arrival — it's not departing at all. 3.2% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled, several times the typical US rate. When flights do go, 78% land on time, no worse than the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 78%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 16 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.2%
- Flights/day
- 5.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 58m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 500 mi
Best airline from DCA to IND
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 79% | 15 min | 3.2% | 3,354 |
| Envoy Air | 74% | 19 min | 2.4% | 123 |
| PSA Airlines | 74% | 25 min | 4.7% | 340 |
| American Airlines | 73% | 19 min | 0.9% | 224 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to IND
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 10 p.m. departures (59%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 76% | 17 min |
| Tuesday | 81% | 15 min |
| Wednesday | 81% | 13 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 17 min |
| Friday | 76% | 19 min |
| Saturdaybest | 87% | 10 min |
| Sunday | 74% | 22 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft56%
- Airline operations23%
- National airspace system13%
- Weather8%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to IND delayed?
- 22% of DCA–IND 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 16 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to IND?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 79%, based on 3,354 flights. 4 airlines flew DCA–IND frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to IND?
- Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 10 p.m. have the worst (59%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DCA to IND?
- The scheduled DCA–IND flight time averages 1h 58m over 500 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are DCA to IND flights cancelled?
- 3.2% 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 IND?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 61% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 32-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,041 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.