Wilmington (ILM) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Delays are only half the story on ILM–DCA: 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, 70% 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
- 70%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 28 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 6.0%
- Flights/day
- 2.4
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 26m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 320 mi
Best airline from ILM to DCA
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Airwaysmost reliable | 87% | 9 min | 2.0% | 201 |
| PSA Airlines | 67% | 31 min | 6.8% | 1,370 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from ILM to DCA
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (89% on-time); avoid 3 p.m. departures (44%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 68% | 37 min |
| Tuesday | 73% | 21 min |
| Wednesday | 69% | 27 min |
| Thursday | 67% | 29 min |
| Friday | 63% | 32 min |
| Saturdaybest | 84% | 16 min |
| Sunday | 68% | 32 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft54%
- Airline operations16%
- National airspace system22%
- Weather8%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from ILM to DCA delayed?
- 30% of ILM–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 28 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 201 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 (89% on-time), while departures around 3 p.m. have the worst (44%). 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 26m over 320 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 30% of the time.
- How often are ILM to DCA flights cancelled?
- 6% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05 — 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.
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Based on 1,620 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.