Denver (DEN) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The calendar drives reliability on DEN–DCA. October 2025 flights landed on schedule 88% of the time, but February 2025 dropped to 54% — a gap of 34 points. Across the full period the route averages 78% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 78%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 16 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.8%
- Flights/day
- 3.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 24m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,476 mi
Best airline from DEN to DCA
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 84% | 11 min | 0.5% | 760 |
| Frontier Airlines | 75% | 17 min | 0.9% | 2,149 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DEN to DCA
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (62%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 74% | 21 min |
| Tuesday | 82% | 11 min |
| Wednesday | 75% | 14 min |
| Thursday | 74% | 21 min |
| Friday | 75% | 18 min |
| Saturdaybest | 85% | 8 min |
| Sunday | 79% | 14 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft31%
- Airline operations25%
- National airspace system39%
- Weather5%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DEN to DCA delayed?
- 22% of DEN–DCA 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 16 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DEN to DCA?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 84%, based on 760 flights. 2 airlines flew DEN–DCA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DEN to DCA?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (62%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DEN to DCA?
- The scheduled DEN–DCA flight time averages 3h 24m over 1,476 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are DEN to DCA flights cancelled?
- 0.8% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from DEN to DCA?
- February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 54% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2025 at 88%. If your dates are flexible, that 34-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,909 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.