Los Angeles (LAX) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The calendar drives reliability on LAX–DCA. October 2025 flights landed on schedule 90% of the time, but July 2025 dropped to 65% — a gap of 25 points. Across the full period the route averages 79% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 79%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 16 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.1%
- Flights/day
- 4.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 59m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,311 mi
Best airline from LAX to DCA
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 83% | 15 min | 1.7% | 726 |
| American Airlines | 81% | 14 min | 0.9% | 1,459 |
| Alaska Airlines | 70% | 20 min | 1.0% | 727 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from LAX to DCA
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (86% on-time); avoid 1 p.m. departures (67%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 78% | 18 min |
| Tuesday | 83% | 13 min |
| Wednesday | 76% | 17 min |
| Thursday | 78% | 16 min |
| Friday | 74% | 17 min |
| Saturdaybest | 84% | 13 min |
| Sunday | 77% | 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 aircraft33%
- Airline operations36%
- National airspace system30%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from LAX to DCA delayed?
- 22% of LAX–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 16 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from LAX to DCA?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 83%, based on 726 flights. 3 airlines flew LAX–DCA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from LAX to DCA?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (86% on-time), while departures around 1 p.m. have the worst (67%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from LAX to DCA?
- The scheduled LAX–DCA flight time averages 4h 59m over 2,311 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are LAX to DCA flights cancelled?
- 1.1% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from LAX to DCA?
- July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 65% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2025 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 25-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from LAX
Other ways to fly to Washington (DCA)
Related guides
Based on 2,912 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.