Indianapolis (IND) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Delays are only half the story on IND–DCA: 3.6% 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, 77% land on time, below the national average of 78%. Envoy Air has been the safer pick, arriving on time 80% of the time.
- On-time
- 77%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 17 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 3.6%
- Flights/day
- 5.5
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 44m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 500 mi
Best airline from IND to DCA
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envoy Airmost reliable | 80% | 17 min | 4.9% | 123 |
| Republic Airways | 79% | 13 min | 3.0% | 3,525 |
| American Airlines | 68% | 29 min | 1.0% | 198 |
| PSA Airlines | 66% | 43 min | 10.0% | 380 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from IND to DCA
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (48%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 78% | 16 min |
| Tuesday | 81% | 12 min |
| Wednesday | 75% | 18 min |
| Thursday | 75% | 15 min |
| Friday | 74% | 18 min |
| Saturdaybest | 84% | 16 min |
| Sunday | 76% | 20 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft37%
- Airline operations18%
- National airspace system41%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from IND to DCA delayed?
- 23% of IND–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 17 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from IND to DCA?
- Envoy Air has the best on-time record on this route at 80%, based on 123 flights. 4 airlines flew IND–DCA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from IND to DCA?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (90% on-time), while departures around 7 p.m. have the worst (48%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from IND to DCA?
- The scheduled IND–DCA flight time averages 1h 44m over 500 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 23% of the time.
- How often are IND to DCA flights cancelled?
- 3.6% 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 IND to DCA?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 61% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 28-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,226 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.