Washington (DCA) to Las Vegas (LAS): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The calendar drives reliability on DCA–LAS. September 2024 flights landed on schedule 97% of the time, but April 2025 dropped to 58% — a gap of 38 points. Across the full period the route averages 74% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 74%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 16 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.0%
- Flights/day
- 2.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 16m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,089 mi
Best airline from DCA to LAS
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlinesmost reliable | 89% | 7 min | 1.0% | 730 |
| Southwest Airlines | 51% | 28 min | 1.1% | 464 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to LAS
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (89% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (47%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 71% | 15 min |
| Tuesday | 73% | 14 min |
| Wednesday | 74% | 13 min |
| Thursday | 70% | 23 min |
| Friday | 71% | 20 min |
| Saturdaybest | 84% | 10 min |
| Sunday | 74% | 13 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft38%
- Airline operations34%
- National airspace system25%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to LAS delayed?
- 26% of DCA–LAS 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 LAS?
- American Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 89%, based on 730 flights. 2 airlines flew DCA–LAS frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to LAS?
- Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (89% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (47%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DCA to LAS?
- The scheduled DCA–LAS flight time averages 5h 16m over 2,089 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 26% of the time.
- How often are DCA to LAS flights cancelled?
- 1% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from DCA to LAS?
- April 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 58% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 97%. If your dates are flexible, that 38-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,194 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.