Wilmington (ILM) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Delays are only half the story on ILM–DCA: 6.6% 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, 69% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Republic Airways has been the safer pick, arriving on time 87% of the time.
- On-time
- 69%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 31 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 6.6%
- Flights/day
- 2.4
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 27m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 320 mi
Best airline from ILM to DCA
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 87% | 10 min | 2.1% | 190 |
| PSA Airlines | 66% | 33 min | 7.4% | 1,495 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from ILM to DCA
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (85% on-time); avoid 3 p.m. departures (42%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 66% | 42 min |
| Tuesday | 73% | 22 min |
| Wednesday | 69% | 32 min |
| Thursday | 66% | 30 min |
| Friday | 62% | 33 min |
| Saturdaybest | 83% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 65% | 36 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft53%
- Airline operations14%
- National airspace system20%
- Weather13%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from ILM to DCA delayed?
- 31% of ILM–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 31 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from ILM to DCA?
- Republic Airways has the best on-time record on this route at 87%, based on 190 flights. 2 airlines flew ILM–DCA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from ILM to DCA?
- Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (85% on-time), while departures around 3 p.m. have the worst (42%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from ILM to DCA?
- The scheduled ILM–DCA flight time averages 1h 27m over 320 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 31% of the time.
- How often are ILM to DCA flights cancelled?
- 6.6% 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 ILM to DCA?
- July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 51% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 39-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from ILM
Other ways to fly to Washington (DCA)
Related guides
Based on 1,730 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.