Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Washington (DCA) effectively runs on two schedules. In November 2024, 84% of arrivals were on time; in July 2025 that fell to 61% — a 23-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 74% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (85% vs 66%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 74%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 18 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.8%
- Flights/day
- 9.1
- 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 7 a.m. (88% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (61%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 76% | 16 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 77% | 19 min |
| Wednesday | 72% | 20 min |
| Thursday | 74% | 21 min |
| Friday | 73% | 16 min |
| Saturday | 77% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 72% | 17 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft41%
- Airline operations36%
- National airspace system15%
- 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 2024-06 and 2026-05. 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 7 a.m. have the best record (88% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (61%). 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?
- 2.8% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- 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.
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Based on 6,805 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.