Washington (DCA) to Portland (PWM): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Delays are only half the story on DCA–PWM: 4.1% 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, 71% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Envoy Air has been the safer pick, arriving on time 81% of the time.
- On-time
- 71%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 21 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 4.1%
- Flights/day
- 3.2
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 42m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 482 mi
Best airline from DCA to PWM
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envoy Airmost reliable | 81% | 13 min | 0.0% | 62 |
| Republic Airways | 74% | 16 min | 6.6% | 332 |
| American Airlines | 72% | 21 min | 1.7% | 1,134 |
| PSA Airlines | 68% | 24 min | 6.1% | 1,044 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DCA to PWM
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (83% on-time); avoid 10 p.m. departures (59%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 69% | 24 min |
| Tuesday | 76% | 16 min |
| Wednesday | 71% | 19 min |
| Thursday | 67% | 27 min |
| Friday | 67% | 25 min |
| Saturdaybest | 77% | 18 min |
| Sunday | 69% | 20 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft58%
- Airline operations28%
- National airspace system11%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DCA to PWM delayed?
- 29% of DCA–PWM 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 21 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DCA to PWM?
- Envoy Air has the best on-time record on this route at 81%, based on 62 flights. 4 airlines flew DCA–PWM frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DCA to PWM?
- Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (83% 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 PWM?
- The scheduled DCA–PWM flight time averages 1h 42m over 482 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 29% of the time.
- How often are DCA to PWM flights cancelled?
- 4.1% 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 PWM?
- February 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 56% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 85%. If your dates are flexible, that 30-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,572 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.