Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Washington (DCA) has an unusually high scrub rate — 3% of scheduled departures never left the gate, a cancellation rate several times the national figure. When flights do go, 74% land on time, below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 74%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 18 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.0%
- Flights/day
- 9.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 57m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,192 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DFW to DCA
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (87% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (60%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 75% | 16 min |
| Tuesday | 77% | 19 min |
| Wednesday | 73% | 18 min |
| Thursday | 74% | 19 min |
| Friday | 72% | 17 min |
| Saturdaybest | 77% | 16 min |
| Sunday | 72% | 18 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft42%
- Airline operations34%
- National airspace system16%
- Weather9%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DFW to DCA delayed?
- 26% of DFW–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 18 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DFW to DCA?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (87% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (60%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DFW to DCA?
- The scheduled DFW–DCA flight time averages 2h 57m over 1,192 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 26% of the time.
- How often are DFW to DCA flights cancelled?
- 3% 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 DFW to DCA?
- July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 61% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 84%. If your dates are flexible, that 23-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from DFW
Other ways to fly to Washington (DCA)
Related guides
Based on 7,097 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.