Milwaukee (MKE) to Washington (DCA): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Milwaukee (MKE) to Washington (DCA) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 93% of arrivals were on time; in February 2025 that fell to 63% — a 30-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 78% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (86% vs 57%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 78%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 21 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.9%
- Flights/day
- 3.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 58m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 634 mi
Best airline from MKE to DCA
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlinesmost reliable | 80% | 13 min | 1.2% | 1,354 |
| PSA Airlines | 76% | 31 min | 4.8% | 1,303 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MKE to DCA
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (95% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (44%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 78% | 23 min |
| Tuesday | 79% | 21 min |
| Wednesday | 76% | 26 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 23 min |
| Friday | 77% | 22 min |
| Saturdaybest | 84% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 79% | 18 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft32%
- Airline operations46%
- National airspace system21%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MKE to DCA delayed?
- 22% of MKE–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 21 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from MKE to DCA?
- Southwest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 80%, based on 1,354 flights. 2 airlines flew MKE–DCA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MKE to DCA?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (95% on-time), while departures around 6 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 MKE to DCA?
- The scheduled MKE–DCA flight time averages 1h 58m over 634 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are MKE to DCA flights cancelled?
- 2.9% 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 MKE to DCA?
- February 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 63% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 30-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,682 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.