Washington (DCA) to Kansas City (MCI): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Delays are only half the story on DCA–MCI: 3.4% of its scheduled flights were outright cancelled, well above the US norm, so a backup plan matters more here than on most routes. When flights do go, 73% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Republic Airways has been the safer pick, arriving on time 80% of the time.
- On-time
- 73%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 18 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.4%
- Flights/day
- 5.3
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 51m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 949 mi
Best airline from DCA to MCI
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 80% | 12 min | 2.4% | 500 |
| Southwest Airlines | 75% | 17 min | 2.0% | 2,082 |
| Envoy Air | 70% | 20 min | 6.3% | 190 |
| PSA Airlines | 66% | 26 min | 6.3% | 1,053 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to MCI
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (93% on-time); avoid 3 p.m. departures (57%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 72% | 19 min |
| Tuesday | 78% | 16 min |
| Wednesday | 75% | 18 min |
| Thursday | 70% | 19 min |
| Friday | 68% | 23 min |
| Saturdaybest | 81% | 12 min |
| Sunday | 72% | 19 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft55%
- Airline operations26%
- National airspace system16%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to MCI delayed?
- 27% of DCA–MCI 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 18 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to MCI?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 80%, based on 500 flights. 4 airlines flew DCA–MCI frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to MCI?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 3 p.m. have the worst (57%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DCA to MCI?
- The scheduled DCA–MCI flight time averages 2h 51m over 949 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 27% of the time.
- How often are DCA to MCI flights cancelled?
- 3.4% 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 MCI?
- February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 51% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 92%. If your dates are flexible, that 41-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,877 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.